The Book of Genesis PDF Free Download
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The Book of Genesis
Index:
Introduction – His Story
Genesis Chapter 1 – In the Beginning
Genesis Chapter 2
Genesis Chapter 2:1-7 – The Crown of Creation
Genesis Chapter 2:8-25 – The Garden Wedding
Genesis Chapter 3
Genesis Chapter 3:1-8 – From Paradise to Prison
Genesis Chapter 3:8-13 – Where Are You
Genesis Chapter 3:14-25 – The Curse and the Promise
Genesis Chapter 4
Genesis 4:1-16 – The First Offering
Genesis 4:17-26 – The Way of Cain
Genesis Chapter 5 – Genealogy of Adam / Enoch Walked with God
Genesis Chapter 6
Genesis 6:1-13 – In the Days of Noah
Genesis 6:14-22 – The Ark Prepared
Genesis Chapter 7 – The Flood
Genesis Chapter 8 – The Ark Rests
Genesis Chapter 9 – The Noahic Covenant
Genesis Chapter 10 – The Table of Nations
Genesis Chapter 11 – The Tower of Babel
Genesis Chapter 12
Genesis 12:1-3 – The Call of Abraham
Genesis 12:1-10 – Abraham – His Failures in Faith
Genesis 12:10-20 – Sarah – A Picture of Submission
Genesis 12:5-8 – O Jerusalem – The Cup of Trembling
Scripturally – What the Bible says about the Land
Historically – The 4,000 year History of the Land
Spiritually – The Spiritual Aspect of the Land
Genesis Chapter 13 - Out of Egypt
Genesis Chapter 14 - The Rescue of Lot / Melchizedek
Genesis Chapter 15 - Fear Not, For I Am your Shield & Great Reward
Genesis Chapter 16 - The Wait / The God Who Sees
Genesis Chapter 17
Genesis 17:1-5 – Be Ye Blameless / A New Name
Genesis 17:6-27 - The Abrahamic Covenant Summation / The Covenant of Circumcision
Genesis Chapter 18 - Abraham Intercedes for the Righteous
Genesis Chapter 19
Genesis 19:1-14 - Lot, Beware of what is Culturally Accepted
Genesis 19:15-38 - The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Genesis Chapter 20 - Not Again / He is My Prophet
Genesis Chapter 21
Genesis 21:1-8: Isaac as Promised / Our Kids & Strong Meat
Genesis 21:9-34: Ishmael Sent Away / Abraham & Abimelech Make a Covenant
Genesis Chapter 22: Sacrificing of Issac - Picture Perfect
Genesis Chapter 23 - The Death of Sarah
Genesis Chapter 24 – Here Comes the Bride
Genesis Chapter 25 – Death of Abraham / Birth of Jacob
Genesis 25:1-8 - Death of Abraham
Genesis 25: 9-34 – Birth of Jacob / Esau Sells His Birthright
Introduction
His Story
Genesis means beginning
Genesis means beginning. The Book of Genesis is the beginning of virtually everything, the
beginning of the universe, the world, of man, of family, of sin, the beginning of just about
everything, except one thing………….the beginning of God.
Studied Evolution vs Creation
We all know verse 1, In the beginning God…………created the heavens and the earth. We have
studied in the past Creation verses Evolution. We have laid the scientific laws side by side each
of them, and I think conclusively proven that you have to receive each by faith.
Even if Scientific Proof / Man would still be empty / Man must know his Creator
As we have said before, this isn’t a science book, but when this book speaks of science it is
always absolutely right-on. But you see even if you could scientifically prove that God created the
heavens and earth, man is still left empty, for man must know who then is this God that created
the heavens and earth.
So maybe you believe in God,
(Psalms 19:1 NKJV) The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
(Romans 1:20 NKJV) For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the
things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
but do you know Him personally / true argument is who is Jesus
but do you know Him personally. You see the argument isn’t about science, it is about Jesus. Is
this man Jesus who walked this earth 2000 years ago really who He said He was, God in the
flesh?
No doubt He walked this earth / look at Historical writings
There is no doubt a man named Jesus walked this earth, there are too many historical facts that
support that He did. If you really want to prove something out, go to an unbiased source that has
no gain or loss in the matter and see what they said; there are many secular (non-Christian)
historical writings that write about this Jesus, the history books reference Him. History books tell
of the brutal Roman persecution of the Christians (the followers of Jesus); even the Jewish
historical writings reference Jesus, even though they didn’t believe He was the Messiah, just that
he claimed to be the Messiah.
ABC / Divided Time / George Washington
Today in our secular media, almost all are anti-Christian, they concur that a man name Jesus
walked on this earth 2000 years ago. Time, Newsweek, ABC News, they don’t question His
existence; they agree that there is too much documentation in existence that Jesus could have
been a myth or a hoax. The whole world lives on a calendar based on Him, BC and AD. Just as
no one alive today has seen George Washington, we all believe in this room that he existed and
was our first President, why because of all the historical writings about him.
Man or God / Teacher or Messiah / God or a lunatic
Jesus Christ, was he a man?, or the God-man?, for the facts are in, He walked on this earth. His
walk on the earth was so radical that He divided time (BC and AD); a man so radical that He
claimed to be God; He claimed that He is the only way to heaven (John 14:6). Now some
claimed He was a good teacher, a good man, but He was not God. He could not be a good man
if He claimed to be God, and was not God. A good man cannot be someone who leads people
astray. It comes down to one of two things, either Jesus Christ was God, or He was a lunatic, for
only a lunatic would make such claims if they were not true.
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come: - slide
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline: - Slide
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Genesis Chapter 1
In The Beginning
(Genesis 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
5 points for Laws of physics - Slide
For you technically minded, I point out the 5 points needed for all the Laws of physics. Time,
Force, Energy, Space, and Matter. All five are spoken of here in the first verse of the Book of
Beginnings. Time (in the beginning), Force (God), Energy (created), Space (heavens), and
Matter (earth).
First Cause
The Theory of Evolution is failed from the beginning because they do not have a “First Cause”,
they say there was a Big Bang, but can’t explain where the Time, Force, Energy, Space, and
Matter came from to support a Big Bang. As for the Creationist, the “First Cause” is God.
Bara vs asa
Also, interesting to note is that the word used here for create in the Hebrew is “bara”, it means to
create out of nothing. The other creation will use the word “asa” which means to create from
existing material.
Jesus the Creator
God created - If you want to be more specific on who was doing the creating, it was Jesus.
- Slide
(Colossians 1:16 NKJV) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible,
whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.
(Ephesians 3:9 NKJV) and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages
has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;
(Revelation 4:11 NKJV) "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And
by Your will they exist and were created."
Created with Purpose
The earth was created to be inhabited, created for His good pleasure, therefore we are created
for His pleasure, therefore we are created for a purpose. You were created for fellowship with
your creator.
- Slide
(Isaiah 45:18 NKJV) For thus says the LORD, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it,
Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: "I am the LORD, and there is no
other.
(Genesis 1:2 NKJV) The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face
of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
God He always sees the finished product
I like this, without form and void. Sounds contrary to God, for it says He doesn’t create in vain,
everything has a purpose, then how could anything be without form and void. To us that is what it
seems, but to God He always sees the finished product before he begins. God assembled all the
basics to start building from; everything needed was there, Time, Force, Energy, Space, and
Matter. God didn’t just create light on the first day, he created all of these things. Like any good
builder God assembled His materials before He started. He still does this everyday, in the
creation of a newborn child.
sonogram of a baby
If you ever see a sonogram of a baby in the womb in the first few days, it looks like it has no form
and is void, but we know from Psalm 139 that God is fashioning the baby at that very moment,
and slowly it develops and matures before our very eyes, yet all the while God knew what he/she
was to become.
(Psalms 139:14 NKJV) I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my
soul knows very well.
(Psalms 139:15 NKJV) My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the
lowest parts of the earth.
Empty Mess / The Spirit Moves
What seems like an empty mess to us, God says that is from your perspective, watch what
happens when my Spirit moves across it. God says that to you, watch what I can do in your life,
do you think it is a mess, without form and empty? Let my Spirit move across your life and watch
what I can do. This brings me comfort for I know He is always working in my life; and not only in
my life but also in the lives of others, my loved ones, and friends. I know when I pray, His Spirit is
already there, and He is in their presence and midst already.
Day 1 – God Created Light After Creating all Matter- - Slide
(Genesis 1:3 NKJV) Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.
(Genesis 1:4 NKJV) And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light
from the darkness.
(Genesis 1:5 NKJV) God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the
evening and the morning were the first day.
Light Spectrum
Note: God divides light: Here is the description of the Light Spectrum. It moves from Ultraviolet
Light to Infrared Light. We didn’t know the light spectrum existed until a few centuries ago, and
here God speaks of it on day 1.
Spirit Moves / Light Goes On / On Earth & In your Life
Do you see what happens on Day 1 (verse 3), the Spirit moved and the light goes on, and God
starts His wondrous creation, not just on the earth, but in your life and my life.
evening and the morning / our Lives move darkness to light
Notice the evening and the morning, evening and the morning after each day. This is still how the
Jewish people count their days, it starts in the evening. I like that for the day moves from
darkness to light. For us our day starts bright and ends dark. God, as the Spirit moves across
you, will move you from darkness to light.
(Luke 1:78 NKJV) Through the tender mercy of our God, With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
(Luke 1:79 NKJV) To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of
peace."
(1 Peter 2:9 NKJV) But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you
may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold,
all things have become new.
Day 2 – God Separates the waters from above and below. - Slide
(Genesis 1:6 NKJV) Then God said, "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters,
and let it divide the waters from the waters."
(Genesis 1:7 NKJV) Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were
under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament; and it was so.
(Genesis 1:8 NKJV) And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the
morning were the second day.
Water Canopy
The firmament. God is making a water canopy. This is important to see here for we will see it
come into play in Genesis 6 when the flood happens, and also throughout the book as we see
men living to 800 and 900 years old.
Greenhouse / Tropical / UV & IR / Life drops
What we have here is water on the earth, atmosphere (air), and then a water blanket encircling
the earth. You have one big greenhouse, a perfect tropical environment, the whole world having
a uniform temperature. The water blanket would block out the dangerous UV and IR rays that
cause our bodies to breakdown and deteriorate. That is why they would live so long, they had
perfect bodies in a perfect environment. We will see when the flood happens the water blanket
collapses, and immediately following the flood we see the life spans drop dramatically, down to
pretty much no more than living 120 years.
Fossil Evidence
Now if this was true, there should be evidence of it, and there is. There are fossil finds up in
northern regions such as the Arctic and Canada that prove it. Alligator fossils found in the Arctic,
a Wooly Mammoth was found in the Polar Region frozen, with green vegetation still in it’s belly.
There are fossils found in the polar region of palm trees and tropical leaves. We will study this
more when we study the flood.
Day 3 – God Separates the waters from the land / Grass, Seeds, Fruit Trees. - Slide
(Genesis 1:9 NKJV) Then God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered
together into one place, and let the dry land appear"; and it was so.
(Genesis 1:10 NKJV) And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the
waters He called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
(Genesis 1:11 NKJV) Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields
seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the
earth"; and it was so.
(Genesis 1:12 NKJV) And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed
according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its
kind. And God saw that it was good.
(Genesis 1:13 NKJV) So the evening and the morning were the third day.
Why the Third Day
Day 3 – gathered the waters together and the land. The grass the herbs, the trees with fruit. Day
1 was light, Day 2 the Greenhouse; now the earth is ready for life. But why third day for life?
Because life that bears fruit comes on the third day. It was the third day that Jesus rose from the
dead, the first fruit; and now we have life because of what happened on the third day of His-story.
Day 4 – He made the sun, the moon, and the stars. - Slide
(Genesis 1:14 NKJV) Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens
to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and
years;
(Genesis 1:15 NKJV) "and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give
light on the earth"; and it was so.
(Genesis 1:16 NKJV) Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and
the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also.
(Genesis 1:17 NKJV) God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the
earth,
(Genesis 1:18 NKJV) and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light
from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.
(Genesis 1:19 NKJV) So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.
Maowr vs Owr
What is interesting here is that the Bible uses two different words that are scientifically correct:
• ma'owr – which means light holder
• 'owr – which means actual light.
Written 4500 years ago
“Ma'owr” is used when it speaks of the moon, which reflects light, and “owr” is used when it
speaks to the burning stars like the sun. Interesting how this was written some 4500 years ago
yet the author knew the difference.
we are the Light holders
Application for us, Jesus is the Son, and we are the Light holders, we reflect the Son’s light. We
are not the lights, we have no power within ourselves to produce light, all we can do is reflect
what has been illuminated on to us from the true light source.
(Matthew 5:16 NKJV) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven.
Day 5 – He creates the Sea Creatures and the Birds of the Air - Slide
(Genesis 1:20 NKJV) Then God said, "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living
creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the
heavens."
(Genesis 1:21 NKJV) So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that
moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird
according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
(Genesis 1:22 NKJV) And God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the
waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."
(Genesis 1:23 NKJV) So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.
God speaks to the animals
And God blessed them, saying - If our minds can grasp this, God speaks to the animals and
they listen. They know who their Creator is, and obey him. We will talk more about this next
study. Even the rocks know their Creator:
(Luke 19:39 NKJV) And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples."
(Luke 19:40 NKJV) But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would
immediately cry out."
All of nature is not only in subjection to Him, but exults Him as the Lord of All Creation.
Do you see the paradox
Do you see the paradox? The lowly animal, even the inorganic materials, knows and exults Him,
but the so-called intelligent man doesn’t. A study released by the Barna Research Institute
concluded that the higher education, and greater the income, the less likely they were to believe
in God. I thought the evolution theory says that man evolved into a higher intelligence form.
Day 6 – He creates the land animals and man - Slide
(Genesis 1:24 NKJV) Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth the living creature
according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to
its kind"; and it was so.
(Genesis 1:25 NKJV) And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle
according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And
God saw that it was good.
Man is His crowning jewel on top of His creation. We will study more on that in chapter two.
(Genesis 1:26 NKJV) Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our
likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and
over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
(Genesis 1:27 NKJV) So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He
created him; male and female He created them.
Let Us make man in Our image, - spoken of plurally. The word used here is “Elohim”, it means
three or more. “El” is the singular word for God, “Eli” means two or more. The word used here is,
Elohim, three or more. Also “Elohim” is used in verse one.
Clearly, from the first verse of His-story, we see the trinity. As for us, with the benefits of the
whole Scriptures, we know this is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
(Genesis 1:28 NKJV) Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and
multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds
of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
man has been made to be fruitful
Be fruitful and multiply. From the beginning man has been made to be fruitful.
What is the Fruit we are to produce? - Slide
(Galatians 5:22 NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
(Galatians 5:23 NKJV) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Do you want to have dominion over your world
subdue it; have dominion - The fruit of the Spirit is love. Do you want to have dominion over
your world, then be fruitful. Be fruitful in your family, in all that you do.
Do you want to multiply - Slide
Do you want to multiply? Speak the word and your world will multiply. When the word is spoken
then life multiples.
(Acts 6:7 NKJV) Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a
great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Speak the Word in your home
Speak the Word in your home, on your drives, on your walks and watch what happens as the
Spirit of God moves over your life. Look at your life when you are in the word, and when you are
not.
Let it go through you
Gipsy Smith told of a man who said he had received no inspiration from the Bible although he had
"gone through it several times." "Let it go through you once," replied Smith, "then you will tell a
different story!"
You are either going to subdue, or be subdued by the enemy
Every word you speak will either produce life or death, fruit or barrenness. You are either going
to subdue, or be subdued by the enemy. It is amazing kids who grow up hearing the Word, and
watched it being lived out by their parents. They grow up to subdue the powers of evil, and bear
fruit.
(Genesis 1:29 NKJV) And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed
which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall
be for food.
(Genesis 1:30 NKJV) "Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to
everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for
food"; and it was so.
(Genesis 1:31 NKJV) Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very
good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
God will not withhold anything that is good for you
it was very good. God will not withhold anything that is good for you. It pleases Him to give you
good things.
(James 1:17 NKJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with
whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
If God hasn’t given it to you now, it doesn’t mean that He won’t give it to you in the future, what it
does mean is that he doesn’t consider it good for you at this time. You singles, if you are single,
then know and trust that God doesn’t consider you having a mate at this time a good thing. If you
don’t have that job, that home, etc, then know and trust that God doesn’t consider it a good thing
for you to have at this time
Genesis Chapter 2
Genesis chapter 2; The Creation of man and the Garden wedding.
Genesis 2:1-7
The Crown of Creation
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come: - slide
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline: - Slide
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
(Genesis 2:1 NKJV) Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were
finished.
(Genesis 2:2 NKJV) And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and
He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
(Genesis 2:3 NKJV) Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He
rested from all His work which God had created and made.
On the 7th day God rested, and so should you.
Slide
(Zephaniah 3:17 KJV) The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will
rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.
Made for Fellowship / He is resting in His love - so should You
He made you for a purpose, to fellowship with you. He will always love you, whether you are
doing good, or not so good. Whether your prayer and study time is great, or non-existent. He
loves you, and when he looks at you he says it is very good. Gang, rest in that. He says I am
resting in my love for you, I rejoice over thee, you make me sing. My love is all, there be nothing
more needed. Our relationship is based on my love for you, nothing else, and we know this is
sufficient because God is Love (John 4:8). If God can rest in His love for us, then we should too.
Another Rest- Physical & Emotional / A whole different Thing / Burnout
There is another rest God want us to have, and that is physically and emotionally, you need to
rest. One in seven days do a whole different thing. You see if you don’t rest, if you keep going
and going, then you will burn yourself out both physically and emotionally, and you will never be
able to see that God is resting in His love for us, and our minds, especially with our American way
of thinking, will say I need to be doing something, getting things done. If you don’t rest you will
never hear God singing with joy over you.
It is Good - Enjoy / Guilt - Pressure / Emily Rose
We read six times that it is good, it is good, God made all these things for you and wants you to
enjoy life. Believe that God wants to bless you. Some Christians feels guilty if they aren't
miserable, if they aren't always serving somebody, or reading and praying, or they feel guilty
when blessings come. God wants to bless you; I remember little Emily Rose (the Bible college
Presidents 3year old daughter) she had just gotten a pack of M&M's from the snack bar. I said
what do you have their Emily, she said candy, and God wants me to have this. I laughed and told
her dad the story, and he said "I wish some Christians could believe that." God wants to bless
you, he wants to have a pack of M&M's with you, walk on the beach, have a cup of coffee, and let
you rest with Him.
Sometimes have to say No / Take the whole day
Sometimes gang we have to say NO. I can't make it, I can't help you, I’m going to rest, I'm going
to spend time with my family, it is ok to say no. Take a whole day and go home and sleep in, or
stay in bed all day. Your body and mind needs rest. We live in such a fast paced world, we try to
cram a million things into each week. Part of the ability to rest, is the ability to say no.
No Sunday Evening Study
We don't have a Sunday Evening Bible Study because I feel that it is too much on the family. We
run Monday through Saturday, then Sunday comes, we go to church, get a bite to eat, and then it
is 4pm, and we only have 2 hours before the evening Bible Study. There is no time for the family,
or rest, and then you are getting home its eight or nine o'clock, and the kids need bathed and
homework finished. You start the week off already tired.
No Burnout / Trouble at Home / Locked at Church
I also never want to see anybody burnout in the ministry. If ministry is causing trouble at home or
with your health, then we need to put a pause on that ministry until we can get some more
helpers. Never feel that you are locked into a ministry, and that if you take a break the ministry
will fail. There is a difference between being faithful, and being driven. God is always more
interested in the minister than the ministry.
Say No to Kids / Board Games / Work / at Expense of Study / Guard Time
Parents, it is ok to say no to your kids, they don’t have to be involved in every extra-curricular
activity going on in the county. You need rest, and if they have to miss out on a world wind
weekend that cost you all kinds of money, or a soccer game, then that they will. Stay home and
play a board game and go to bed early. I’ve said it enough, work worthy of your calling at work,
be a good worker and witness, but not at the expense of your family or health. I also might add,
redeem the time, don't miss out on the blessing of ministry and family time because you stayed
up late watching that movie, or cruising the Internet. Don’t say well he said to rest so I’m too tired
to go to the Bible Study; there will be times like that, especially midweek, but you know what, say
no to overtime, or juniors soccer game first, don’t give God your leftovers. Guard your time, use it
wisely, and learn to say no, and rest.
Can't rest in His Love if don’t Rest
Rest so your bodies may be refreshed, so you will be able to see that He is resting in His love for
you, therefore you can rest.
(Genesis 2:4 NKJV) This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were
created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens,
Note: Notice heavens are plural in verse 4. Three heavens spoken of in the Bible:
1.) the heavens where the birds fly and the sky is blue (our atmosphere)
2.) Where the stars are, our outer space
3.) Heaven, where the throne of God is
(Genesis 2:5 NKJV) before any plant of the field was in the earth and before any herb of
the field had grown. For the LORD God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there
was no man to till the ground;
(Genesis 2:6 NKJV) but a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole face of the
ground.
No Rain / Sprinkler System / Noah
There was no rain, but a mist that went up from the ground. I was God's sprinkler system that
kept everything watered in this tropical paradise. Rain did not come until the day of Noah, and
the water canopy collapsed, and the flood of God's judgment came.
Never Heard Rain / Rapture
No rain, man never heard of rain, and that is why they thought Noah was such a nutcase building
an ark, for a rain they had never seen of our heard about. The same is true today concerning the
Rapture. People think we are a nutcase talking about a rapture they had never heard of or seen.
But as sure as the flood came, so will the rapture.
(Genesis 2:7 NKJV) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and
breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
No Life until He Breaths
The breath of God breathed into man, and then he came alive. The Hebrew word "rauch" is used
for breath, wind, and Spirit. Man doesn't become a living soul until God breathes into man.
Every life today, still comes from the breath of God, whether you believe in Him or not, every life
begins when God breaths into man
- slide
(Job 12:10 KJV) In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
- slide
(Acts 17:24 NKJV) "God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell
in temples made with hands.
(Acts 17:25 NKJV) "Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life,
breath, and all things.
- slide
(Daniel 5:23 NKJV) "And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His
house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have
praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God
who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified.
Dust until He breaths
Adam means man. The root of Adam means dust, coming from the ground. We are nothing but
dust until the breath of God moves over us.
(Genesis 1:2 KJV) And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the
Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
(Psalms 103:14 NKJV) For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.
Your body contains:
Enough iron to make a small nail,
Enough salt to fill an ordinary shaker
Enough sugar to fill a small bowl
Enough lime to whitewash a small chicken coop
Enough phosphorus to make a dozen matches
Enough fat to fill a twelve-pound pail
I think if you went to the recycle yard your body might be worth 3 dollars, but as we study through
this Bible, we see the Scarlet Thread, that it cost God His only Son to buy us out of the prison of
sin and death.
How special you are
Just how special you are to God. Are you special! Let me just share a small glimpse of how
special you are.
Know how special or Satan will rob you
If you go through your whole life never fully understanding how special you are to God, you will
miss out on the many blessing the Lord has for you, also Satan will be able to defeat you in many
areas of your life cause you will believe some of his lies.
3 Creations
We are going to look at 3 creations, and see just how special we are.
• Creation 1: The Creation of Man.
• Creation 2: The Creation of You.
• Creation 3: The Creation of You: Part 2
Creation 1: The creation of man.
Lets read Gen 1:4, 1:10, 1:12, 1:18, 1:21, 1:25; we see the repeated statement: it was good:
• (Genesis 1:4 NKJV) And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness.
• (Genesis 1:10 NKJV) And God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called
Seas. And God saw that it was good.
• (Genesis 1:12 NKJV) And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the
tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
• (Genesis 1:18 NKJV) and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And
God saw that it was good.
• (Genesis 1:21 NKJV) So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the
waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was
good.
• (Genesis 1:25 NKJV) And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind,
and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
But things change on His last creation:
(Genesis 1:31 NKJV) Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and
the morning were the sixth day.
Very Good / Intensifier / Final Creation / Crown
At the end of every day of creation God said "it was good", until the sixth day, when God said "it
was very good". The word "very" as used here is used often with other words to intensify them; in
this case it would mean especially good, exceedingly good, great. Why did God say it was so
good? Because in His final act of creation, He created man.
Do you know what the Hebrew word for man is here "Adam", but it is used in its generic sense
meaning "mankind". So here we see God is talking about all of the human race, and that
includes me and you. And God said it was VERY good. The creation of man was God putting
the crowning jewel on top of His creation. And He said, "It was VERY good"
Adam was first, but it very well could have been us, for we, man, are created in God's image.
Genesis 2:7
(Genesis 2:7 NKJV) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being
Picture the Day / All eyes on the Lord / Starts forming the dirt / The Animals watch
When I read the Bible I like to put myself in the story, like I was standing right there. So Picture
the day in this tropical climate, the lush green garden, a cool mist coming out of the ground, and
along comes the Lord. We know from Scripture that wherever the Lord is, all eyes are upon Him.
When Jesus walked the earth everywhere He went all eyes were upon Him. When Jesus returns
all eyes will turn to see Him, God is the center of His creation. So can you picture all the animals
in the garden? When God passed every eye turned to Him, but He didn't just pass, He stopped
and started to do something in the dirt. The attention of all the animals are locked in on what He
is doing. A lion comes over cocking his head in wonderment, two beavers leave the water to get
a closer look, a giraffe uses his height advantage to get a better look, some squirrels hang out on
branches to get a bird’s-eye view, and a few rabbits hop over to watch. They all watch in silence
as God puts some dirt here, some dirt there, and begins to shape it.
Formed / Jeremiah 18 / Ish 64 / The Master Potter
The Hebrew word used here in Genesis 2:7 for "formed" is the exact same Hebrew word used for
"potter" in Jeremiah 18. The picture it brings to mind here in the garden is God forming Adam just
as a potter forming a piece of clay. God knew specifically what He was going to make when He
started to form Adam.
(Jeremiah 18:1 NKJV) The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying:
(Jeremiah 18:2 NKJV) "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words."
(Jeremiah 18:3 NKJV) Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.
(Jeremiah 18:4 NKJV) And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into
another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.
(Jeremiah 18:5 NKJV) Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:
(Jeremiah 18:6 NKJV) "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in
the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!
(Isaiah 64:8 NKJV) But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work
of Your hand.
Rozelle / Finished Product
Mike Rozelle, who is considered to be a Master Potter, which is no small claim, in other words he
is considered one of the best in the world in this field. He and his wife Pam do the "Potters Field
Ministry", they go around the world ministering. Pam sings, and Mike gives a Biblical teaching
about this verse, while he gives a live demonstration on how to make a clay pot. One thing I'll
never forget Mike saying was that every time he begins with that lump of clay, he doesn't even
see the clay, but only the finished product, he sees that beautiful finished product. So too with
God, for he is the Master of Master Potters.
Every Move shape takes place / Adams face - 930 / The Creator hands get Dirty
Now, picture it, with every move of the Master's hand a distinguishable form begins to appear,
can you imagine the joy God had as He formed Adam's face, the face He would look at and
fellowship with for 930 years. Here is the creator of the universe getting His hands dirty to create
man.
Shaping Done - God Leans Back / Animals Silent / the Breath
After all the shaping was complete I picture God leaning back to stop and admire what He had
fashioned. All the animals remain silenced wondering what is it, and then the Creator of the
universe leans forward, possibly chest to chest, and breaths life into the nostrils of Adam.
Creator stands / Lifts His Creation / Animals erupt
The Creator stands, then He extends His hands and lifts Adam to His feet and presents him to
the rest of His creation. At this point the garden erupts into a euphoric cheer, lions are roaring,
monkeys screeching and shaking the trees, squirrels chattering, and birds singing. All of creation
rejoicing, the animals in amazement at the beauty of God's creation, the crown of God's creation,
MAN.
Creation stopped on Universe / Didn't stop with Adam / Same love interest in Us
God may have stopped creating the universe after six days, but He didn't stop creating with
Adam, but He is active in the creation of every one of us. And the same love and interest that
God put into Adam, He puts into us.
Creation 2: The creation of you.
(Psalms 139:13 NKJV) For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
(Psalms 139:14 NKJV) I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my
soul knows very well.
(Psalms 139:15 NKJV) My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the
lowest parts of the earth.
(Psalms 139:16 NKJV) Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The
days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
v.15 Wrought / embroiderer, needlework / every detail / Artwork
In verse 15 of Psalm 139, the word wrought means "embroiderer, needlework", the picture it
gives us is God with a needle and thread, ever so patiently making us. God being so interested
in every little detail of how he makes us, bringing the fabric together into a beautiful piece of art.
For that's what needlework is, it is art. God considers us his piece of art.
V16 formed - same as Gen 2:7
In verse 16, days fashioned is the same word used for "formed" in Gen 2:7. God doesn't just
make you and let you go, He is actively shaping your future, before you are even born, God is
preparing your future for you.
He Still Isn't Done
But, God still isn't done. When He finished His artwork as He created you, He begins to create
His poem about you.
Creation Three: The creation of You: Part 2
You are a wonderful poem God is writing about you.
(Ephesians 2:10 NKJV) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared
beforehand that we should walk in them.
workmanship" is "poiema
The Greek word for "workmanship" is "poiema", from where we get our English word "poem".
You see that is exactly what we are, we are God's poem, a love poem at that.
God's Poem / Whole new shaping / New Audience / The Creator Stands / Heaven Erupts
As God creates His poem a whole new shaping takes place, and a whole new audience is
present. When we give our life to Jesus Christ God starts to shape us from the inside,
conforming us into the image of Jesus Christ. And now the audience has changed from creation
to the heavenly angels. They watch on, and much like on day six all they see is some dirt here,
some dirt there, but the Master begins to shape it. Now, picture it, with every move of the
Master's hand a distinguishable form begins to appear, can you imagine the joy God has as He
forms us knowing what the finished result will be? The Creator stands, then He extends His
hands and lifts us to our feet and presents us to the host of angels in heaven. And heaven as in
the garden erupts with euphoric cheers as they rejoice in the great work of God, they stare in
amazement at the masterpiece of beauty God has created and all of heaven exalts God for His
greatness.
He is not Done / Philp 1:6
My friends if you feel discouraged or defeated right now please know that God is still actively
involved in your life, and He is still forming and shaping you. How precious you are to Him.
(Philippians 1:6 NKJV) being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until
the day of Jesus Christ;
He Loves you / Ever Doubt it / Go to the Cross
God loves you, He can't stop thinking about you, nor can He take His eyes off you, you are His
poem.
If you ever doubt God's love, than think of these three creations, but most of all Go Back To The
Cross, and you will see a Love that is undeniable.
(John 15:13 NKJV) "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
How Precious you are to God / Kola Bear
How precious we are to God that we would be the crown of His creation. I don't think so, we may
argue over what is the most beautiful species on the planet, a man, a lion, kola bear, etc; but
never what is the most precious. For it was man that Jesus Christ became, and it was for man
that Jesus Christ died.
Rest in His Love
Rest in His love, that’s is what He is doing.
Genesis 2:8-12
The Garden Wedding
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come: - slide
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline: - Slide
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Genesis 2:7 - Slide
(Genesis 2:7 NKJV) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being
Dirty Hands / crowning jewel / dirty garment
In Genesis 2:7, we see God getting His hands dirty to make His crowning jewel – mankind. With
every stroke, the mound of dust becomes more distinguishable. The Master Potter doesn’t even
notice the dirt on His garment because all He can see is the finished product.
Adam or you / joy of the Master / created for fellowship / not distant
Whether it was Adam on that day or you in your mother’s womb, the Master takes great joy with
every stroke of His hand as He fashions and forms us. His joy comes because He created us,
mankind, for His good pleasure. We are created to enjoy and experience intimate fellowship with
Him. He is not a distant far away God, but a God who is here right now, standing in our midst.
He is here now holding our breath in His hand. The God who breathed His breath of life into
Adams nostrils, the very kiss of God.
Bride of Christ
Ephesians 5 tells us that before the foundations of the world we were created to be the Bride of
Christ. A bond of unity so close, that the two shall be one. So close that Christ would be in you.
A union of and for fellowship, to enjoy life together, and to fall deeper in love every day.
All created is good / 1 more blessing
In these upcoming verses, we will see God made the earth and the fullness thereof to bless
mankind, for all I’ve created “it was good” – but I still have one more blessing for you, one more
creation, a gift for you Adam, a gift for mankind. Adam will call her woman.
This study we will enjoy the first wedding, the Garden Wedding.
(Genesis 2:8 NKJV) The LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden, and there He put
the man whom He had formed.
(Genesis 2:9 NKJV) And out of the ground the LORD God made every tree grow that is
pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was also in the midst of the garden,
and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Eden means Delight / Delight is God prepared it
Eden means, "delight"; Eden was a delightful place to be. The delight wasn't the beautiful floral
and tropical vegetation (as delightful as that was); the delight was that this is the place God had
prepared for Adam, a place where God walked, a place where Adam and God would fellowship.
(Psalms 84:9 NKJV) O God, behold our shield, And look upon the face of Your anointed.
(Psalms 84:10 NKJV) For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the
house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
(Psalms 84:11 NKJV) For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He
withhold From those who walk uprightly.
(Psalms 84:12 NKJV) O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!
Don’t look Maui / Look for the Master
Gang don’t be looking for the garden, the Maui, be looking for the Master and you will find delight
in all your places. He will bring you delight in all your circumstances and places. But
circumstances and places won’t always bring you delight.
(Genesis 2:10 NKJV) Now a river went out of Eden to water the garden, and from there it
parted and became four riverheads.
(Genesis 2:11 NKJV) The name of the first is Pishon; it is the one which skirts the whole
land of Havilah, where there is gold.
(Genesis 2:12 NKJV) And the gold of that land is good. Bdellium and the onyx stone are
there.
(Genesis 2:13 NKJV) The name of the second river is Gihon; it is the one which goes
around the whole land of Cush.
(Genesis 2:14 NKJV) The name of the third river is Hiddekel; it is the one which goes
toward the east of Assyria. The fourth river is the Euphrates.
These four rivers made up the area of Eden.
(Genesis 2:15 NKJV) Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden
to tend and keep it.
Worshipper / florist not a worker
Adam was to tend and keep it. One of the root meanings of the word “tend” is “worshipper”. You
see sin had not entered into the picture at this point. Adam wasn’t trying to maintain the garden,
fight back the thorns and thistles, Adam was a florist creating beautiful arrangements to be
enjoyed. His labors were a joy, not a burden. Adam was making a beautiful garden sanctuary
where he and his creator could fellowship and commune. A place Adam could worship his
creator.
Garden place is in the Master / 2 shall become one
As for us, that garden, that place, isn’t Maui, but it is in the Master and the Master in us. A place
that wherever we are, we can worship with Him, for the two shall become one.
(Ephesians 1:3 NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual
blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
(Ephesians 1:4 NKJV) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before Him in love,
(Colossians 1:27 NKJV) To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
(Genesis 2:16 NKJV) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of
the garden you may freely eat;
(Genesis 2:17 NKJV) "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat,
for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die."
All this is yours – except / it will kill you
All of this is yours to eat, and enjoy, except just the one tree. Notice, God did not say eat of the
tree and I'll kill you, but eat of the tree and it will kill you, it will do you in, stay away from it. Sin is
unforgiving and will never forget you.
It wasn't just a tree, it was a choice
Why was this tree there if it could kill Adam? It wasn't just a tree, it was a choice. It wasn't the
fruit that kills, but the choice that kills. Sin is before us today so there can be a choice of who you
will love. The choice had to be there in order for it to be love. Adam had to have a choice, or
else it would have been forced love, which is rape, true love has more than one choice.
I knowingly choose my way."
The tree of the knowledge of good and evil - for Adam and Man, means "I knowingly choose my
way."
(Genesis 2:18 NKJV) And the LORD God said, "It is not good that man should be alone; I
will make him a helper comparable to him."
(Genesis 2:19 NKJV) Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and
every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And
whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.
(Genesis 2:20 NKJV) So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every
beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him.
1st Not Good / no Mr and Mrs Adam / showing his need
This is the first time that God says something is not good in the Bible - that man was alone.
There was a Mr and Mrs Hippopotamus, a Mr and Mrs Orangutan, Mr and Mrs Giraffe, but there
was no Mr and Mrs Adam. Adam knew that he had no helpmate, no completer. As God brought
all the animals before Adam, he was showing Adam his need, He was drawing out of Adam a
desire for the same. God showed Adam his need, before Adam even knew he had a need. God
will show you that need, not to frustrate you, but to bring you into the greatest fulfillment you can
have. When God brings the fulfillment of your desire to you, it is because of that wanting, that
desire to be filled, that when God does fulfill, you will be appreciative, you will be full of joy and
praise.
(Genesis 2:21 NKJV) And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he
slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place.
(Genesis 2:22 NKJV) Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into
a woman, and He brought her to the man.
God puts Adam to sleep / Desire / wait on the Lord
God puts man to sleep, to bring him to rest. God was saying Adam, just rest, you se your need,
you have this desire, now rest and I will bring you your desire. You singles, God says that to
you, you have this desire because I have shown it to you, now just rest, and I will bring your
desire to you, in my perfect timing. You may say but I am ready, I'm all formed and fashioned,
you have breathed your breath upon me Lord, but God may still be preparing your mate, He may
not have even breathed His breath of eternal life into your mate yet. What your Heavenly Father
says to you today is, just rest, I'll take care of everything, in my perfect timing.
(Psalms 37:7 NKJV) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Not resting / shaking bushes / mate might not be ready
You see if Adam wasn't resting, then he would have been out there shaking the bushes and the
trees, and he would have ended up with an animal. You singles, that is exactly what will happen
to you, you go out and start shaking the trees and bushes, turning over every rock, you will get
what ever crawls out from underneath that rock, or falls out of the tree, and you will be greatly
disappointed. Rest in the Lord, wait on His perfect timing, you may be ready, but the mate God
has for you, isn't prepared yet.
Taken from the side / close to your heart
and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place - The bone was taken from the
side. Not the head that she should rule over him, not the feet that she should be his stepping
stone, but from his side, a rib, which is close to the heart. The bride needs to be close to your
heart, brides the ribs protect the heart, you need to protect his heart. Wives you are to be at your
husband's side, stand by him and with him.
Something missing in Man / only found in woman
God had taken from man - God took a piece from man, something was missing in man, and that
piece that was missing could only be found in woman.
Man never able to fully satisfy / Last Adam
Adam, man, is missing something. Man is not all there. Therefore man will never be able to
satisfy you fully woman. You can never expect that; you have to look to the one that can meet
your every need, who you can talk to and go to at anytime - Jesus, the last Adam.
(1 Corinthians 15:45 KJV) And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a
quickening spirit.
Men wife reflection of You / Die to self / let this cup pass
Men, if your wife isn't all that you want her to be, you have to look at yourself, because she is
made from you. You are to love her as Christ loves the Church, and gave Himself for her.
Husband you are to die to yourself. Jesus gave up His desire, "let this cup pass", but not my will,
but thy will be done. The only way to die to yourself is to go to the last Adam, and seek Him to
help you.
Find in the last Adam is freedom to enjoy
What you will both find as you go to the last Adam is that as you look to Jesus to meet and fulfill
your needs, then you lift the burden of having to be perfect and meet every need. You then will
be free to enjoy each other.
(Genesis 2:23 NKJV) And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my
flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man."
This is Now
When Adam saw woman for the first time, what did he say? This is now…………….
This is now bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh. This is now, she is now my life, my breath, my
heart beat. The past is past, it is now, I am no longer alone, I am no longer singular. She is a gift
from the Father. This is Now…………..
Marriage promise is only here and now / Live like it / Work / News / Game
Married couples, all you are ever promised in your marriage, is now. As you look at your spouse,
remember these words, "this is now". Live your marriage for the now, let work wait instead of
your wife, let her news be more important than the evening new, let her always be the game of
the week. Wives don’t give your husband whatever, if there is any, leftovers from the kids, your
career ladder, and the sorts. This is Now………….
Heal the wound / fix the problem / share the joys and sorrows
For you married couples, "this is now", to heal the wound now, to fix the problem now, to listen to
the other now, to enjoy each other now. When you said I do, this is now your family, you now
share the ups and the downs, the joys and the sorrows, because you are now one, the two have
now become bone of bone, and flesh of flesh, the tow have now become one. This is Now……..
No longer singular / family respect that
When Adam saw Eve, he said I am no longer Adam single, I am now Adam plural. When you
see me, you see me and my complete counterpart. Friends and family, respect this in all
marriages. Your relationship with these two will never be the same. Be glad in that, rejoice in
that. You must now look at them as one, This is Now, they are now one. The ballgame and
hunting can’t be the same. Ladies the long phone calls and walks in the mall, late night chats,
can’t be the same. Friends and family, respect that, accept that. Don’t make those comments, I
wish it was like before, or since you got married. You have to remember, This is Now……..
(Genesis 2:24 NKJV) Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
(Genesis 2:25 NKJV) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not
ashamed.
Hope for Unity / Debaq
Is there hope for unity, absolutely, verse 24 says the two shall become one. The word used here
for cleave/joined, is the Hebrew word "debaq". It is a gluing, a permanent glue.
There are two requirements for unity: leaving and cleaving.
Leave: Leave every other relationship, burn the bridges, cut loose the life rafts, wave bye-bye to
mother and father and all others. You can't be living for your parent's consent and approval. You
have to serve your spouse not your parents. Parents you have to let them go; give counsel and
then let them live it out. Couples you have to cut-off the relationship with that guy or gal at work,
the old friends from church or high school. No more lunch dates with the opposite sex, no more
coffee breaks together. Burn the photos of the old flames, shred their cards and letters, remove
them from your Rolodex. When there is Leaving it means there is no comparing your spouse to
anyone. Men your wife has to be secure in this, that there is no other that you are comparing her
to.
Woman you are to seek your spiritual leadership from you husband. If you have a question ask
your husband, if he doesn't have the answer than let him go find out the answer. When he
comes the leadership in the church, than we get to disciple him, and he grows in his leadership in
the home. He has to know that you look to him for leadership and there is no one else that can
lead you.
Then secondly,
Cleave: Cleaving is that romance and intimacy. The bible says that sex is more than two bodies
coming together, it is two souls coming together, it is giving a piece of yourself away.
You may say well I don't have those feeling anymore, I don't want to cleave. Let me tell you, you
have to cleave to get those feeling. You don't wait for the feeling to cleave, you cleave and those
feeling then come.
And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. - there was no
competition, there was no comparison, so then there was no embarrassment or fear of rejection.
As Adam would say, WOW, this is now mine, all mine, she is my completer, she is a gift from my
Father.
Genesis Chapter 3
The Fall of Man. From Paradise to Prison.
Genesis Chapter 3: 1- 8
From Paradise to Prison
walking in the garden, this delightful place
They enjoyed walking in the garden, this delightful place that God had created for them, so that
they may enjoy the beauty of His creation and enjoy deep intimate fellowship and communion
with God their creator.
But there had to be a choice
But for it to be love, for it to be their choice to walk with Him, God gives them a choice; the tree of
the knowledge of good and evil. That tree wasn't about fruit, it was about choice. God was not
going to force them into fellowship and communion with Him, He would not force them to love
Him, and forced love is not love.
As it was in the garden, so it is today, a choice of who man will obey, a choice of who will I
fellowship with.
As we said this Bible is His-story; and it is impossible to understand the rest of the Bible without
understanding Genesis chapter 3. God's intricate plan of redemption fulfilled in Christ is
meaningless if the events of Genesis chapter 3 were not told to us.
Outline for Chapter 3:1-8
The Attack - 3:1-5
The Questioning of the Word of God - 3:1
The Twisting of the Word of God - 3:1
The Questioning of God's Character - 3:4-5
The Fall - 3:6
The Covering - 3:7-8
1.) The Attack - 3:1-5
(Genesis 3:1 NKJV) Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which
the LORD God had made. And he said to the woman, "Has God indeed said, 'You shall not
eat of every tree of the garden'?"
most beautiful creature
The serpent was the most beautiful creature in the garden, and the most cunning, which is being
deceitful for evil reasons.
(Ezekiel 28:12 NKJV) "Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord GOD:
"You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.
(Ezekiel 28:13 NKJV) You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius,
topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your
timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
more cunning than any beast / worship leader
His reason behind his deceit, he wants to be God, he wants to be worshipped, rather than a
worshipper.
(Isaiah 14:12 NKJV) "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the
ground, You who weakened the nations!
(Isaiah 14:13 NKJV) For you have said in your heart: 'I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars
of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;
(Isaiah 14:14 NKJV) I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.'
Satan was the worship leader in heaven, but he wanted to be worshipped rather than worship the
one who created him:
(Ezekiel 28:13 NKJV) You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz,
and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels
and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created.
He didn't always slither around, it is not until he was cursed that he began to
(Genesis 3:14 NKJV) So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this, You are cursed more than all
cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life
1a.) The Questioning of the Word of God - 3:1
Satan's first plan of attack, / Question the word
Has God indeed said, ………………?" - Satan's first plan of attack, and nothing has changed in
6000 years; He questions God's word. "Has God indeed said……." Satan's strategy is to make
you question the Word; is that really what it means? Is that still applicable for the day we live in?
Is this really God's word, after all it was written by man?
1b.) The Twisting of the Word of God - 3:1-3
Satan takes away or twists
He brings the question, the doubts of "has God really said?"; and then he takes away from the
word. Notice in verse 1 he says "of every tree", compared to what God had said in chapter 2:
(Genesis 2:16 NKJV) And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely
eat;
(Genesis 2:17 NKJV) "but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat
of it you shall surely die."
Satan twists it from one tree, to every tree. Satan always tries to twist the Scriptures, to take
away from the positive, and turn it into the negative. He takes away from it, so as to take away its
power for you.
He takes away her power, and look at verses 2 and 3:
(Genesis 3:2 NKJV) And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees
of the garden;
(Genesis 3:3 NKJV) "but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God
has said, 'You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'"
dialogue with the Devil / where was Adam /
Here is a deeper problem; Eve is entering into a dialogue with the Devil; always a dangerous
place to be. My first question is "where was Adam while his wife was seeking out spiritual things?
Why wasn't he by her side? The two were one, yet she was left alone to be deceived by Satan.
Woman truly are more spiritual than men, they are more interested in seeking after spiritual
things, but because of this, they are more emotional and more easily deceived because of their
emotions. Men, it is your responsibility to be beside your wife in all spiritual matters, you are
called to lead your family. Eve is alone, seeking spiritual things on her on, and Satan has her
right where he wants her - without the covering of God, nor her husband.
Satan takes away – Eve adds to / beginning of Legalism
Now Satan takes away from the word, and here we see Eve adding to the word. Nowhere do we
read that God said "don't touch it". God said don't eat, He didn't say don't touch it. Adding that
you shouldn't touch it, seems to make sense, but here is what happens - Legalism happens.
Extra perimeter / added rules / leads to bondage
Eve added an extra perimeter, an extra hedge, an extra rule for her protection, but what happens
when you do that is the beginning of legalism. Adding extra rules and regulations so as to stay
safe, to keep from getting messed up, but it leads people into a bondage, and the extra burdens
will lead to bitterness and backsliding
To Bind / people walk away
Religion means to bind. That is what legalism will do, it binds us into a burden that God didn't
give us. Countless people have walked away from God because churches, parents, and
believers, as well-meaning as they may be, put those extra rules and regulations on them that
made them say, "who can live up to these standard - I give up."
Eve’s personal convictions
Now if Eve had said, God said not to eat it, but for my own protection I'm choosing not to even
touch it so I don't get tempted - that would be OK, that’s her personal convictions. But Eve didn't
say that, she said God said not to touch it. If Eve said you know what I want to stay so far away
from slipping I am going to quit drinking, that would be fine, if she said I am going to unplug the
cable, or quit watching these certain types of movies, that is fine, that is her personal convictions
and safeguards. But the problem starts with saying, God said that is wrong. As well-meaning as
it may be, if God didn't say it, then you are adding to the Scriptures, and trouble always begins.
Gang, God doesn't say not to drink alcohol - I wish that He did, but He didn't. Nor did God say
smoking is a sin, or eating a bag of Doritos. We can try to apply other Scriptures, but we are still
adding to the word.
Stick to your personal convictions
Now, if you have a personal conviction about something, and you are applying it to your life and
you are saying this is what I do to safeguard myself, then holdfast to it. If you believe this will
keep you safe, then don't worry about what others will say about you - especially when they call
you the "legalist". That seems to be one of the greatest fears for a Christian, that someone would
label them as a legalist. Who cares what they think, if it works for you, then stick with it.
Interesting, I have some personal convictions that have worked for me; I choose not to have
cable, drink, watch sexually or vulgar contented movies and shows, and people have accused me
of being legalistic. I say, I didn't say God said it, I'm not even telling you to do it, I am telling you
my personal convictions and what has worked for me. The interesting part is that the people who
challenge me on that, who say I am legalistic, all have fallen themselves in those areas. My
point, they want you to relax on your personal convictions, because they are being personally
convicted by your lifestyle. So don't add to God's word, your lifestyle will be its own witness.
Eve had dialogue / she added / she is set for the fall
But Eve, she added to the word, she entered this dialogue with the Devil, a being with an
intelligence level we can't even comprehend, an she is all alone, she is set for the fall. She is
having a dialogue with the father of lies. Believer, don't try to reason with satan or your flesh, just
take the word of God, and this is what it says, this is what it means, this is how I apply it to my life.
1c.) The Questioning of God's Character - 3:4-5
(Genesis 3:4 NKJV) Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die.
(Genesis 3:5 NKJV) "For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened,
and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
Now full on frontal attack – direct challenge to what God said
Satan, comes with the full frontal attack, a direct challenge to God's word. He softens the soil first
by casting doubt on God's word, by questioning the word. Then he comes with the direct attack,
he questions he ways of God.
Satan attacks God’s Love / God is holding something back / something wonderful
For God knows that in the day - Satan attacks God's love, he tells Eve "God is holding something
back from you." He is trying to keep you in the dark; he wants your eyes to be close. If you eat
of this your eyes will be open to new and wonderful things. There is something wonderful that
God is holding back from you, He is a cosmic killjoy, obedience to His word is bondage, and that
is want He wants for you. No joy, just a boring existence.
Satan Twists again / In some areas God wants you blinded
Satan twisted the Scripture again, for truly God does want you to be blind in certain areas, He
wants you to be innocent, and unknowing in the areas that will rob and destroy your life.
(Romans 16:19 NKJV) For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you
to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil.
(Romans 16:20 NKJV) And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
be with you. Amen.
The strategy hasn't changed / He hisses in your ear
The strategy hasn't changed. He hisses in the ear, you know why you aren't to do that? Because
it will be a joy. This situation is special, you are excluded from His word. Or God is keeping
something from you. Today Satan says have a sniff of thisssssss, it will make you fly. Invite her
over to your housssssssss, it will be a blast. Try it, you see.
Doubt the word – you doubt His character / Look to the other tree
When people doubt God's word, say I don't see why I have to obey it; the true issue is they doubt
God's character. They doubt that that He wants the best for them. Before you eat of the tree of
the forbidden fruit, the choice I knowingly chose to disobey, before you do that, you need to look
at another tree, a tree 2000 years on a hilltop outside the city Jerusalem called Calvary. A tree
where Jesus after He was beaten, whipped, spit upon, stripped naked, and then nailed through
His hands and feet on a wooden tree on Calvary.
A place where He that knew no sin, became sin for us, that we might become right with God
(2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness
of God in Him.
Look at the God-man
You must look to the man, the God-man, who came to delivery us from death and the bondages
on sin, for He took our place, He took our beating, our whipping, our being spit upon, stripped
naked, nailed, and crucified.
That truly is what sin does to us:
Sin Beats us – leaving our lives battered and bruised.
Sin Whips us – leaving us dazed and confused
Sin Spits upon us – created in the image of God for His good pleasure, and we become ashamed
Sin Leaves us naked – left alone, exposed for who we are
Sin Nails us – puts us into a bondage, like a wash cycle bringing us up and taking us back down
Sin Crucifies us, kills us - Sin like the cross takes us to a slow death.
Before you look to that forbidden fruit on that forbidden tree, you need to first look at the tree on
Calvary, and there can be no doubt that the God of Love only wants the best for you. That God
wants to free us from all the pain and suffering that sin brings, and the ultimate death to follow.
(John 15:13 NKJV) "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
(John 15:14 NKJV) "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
2.) The Fall - 3:6
(Genesis 3:6 NKJV) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was
pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.
She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
Flesh / Eyes / Life
Every sin will fall into 1 or all three of the following:
(1 John 2:15 NKJV) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is
not in him.
(1 John 2:16 NKJV) For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the
Father but is of the world.
(1 John 2:17 NKJV) And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Lust of the Flesh - Feels good, tastes good. She "saw that the tree was good for food"
Lust of the Eyes - looks good, plus it was encouraged by the one who was the most beautiful in
the garden – satan. Looks can be so deceiving. "that it was pleasant to the eyes"
The Pride of Life - makes you wise, look at me! "a tree desirable to make one wise"
Pick a sin today, and you’ll see it fit into one if not all three of these areas.
Eve was deceived
(1 Timothy 2:13 NKJV) For Adam was formed first, then Eve.
(1 Timothy 2:14 NKJV) And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression.
Eve was deceived, but Adam knowingly knew his wrong. Again, Eve never should have been
seeking the spiritual things without her husband.
Adam knowingly chooses to disobey to be with Eve
But here we see Adam saying I knowingly am choosing to disobey Gods word to be with this
woman. I want to be with her, more than I want to obey God.
Eve in fallen state / Adam lowered himself – rather than trust God
Consider this, Eve was in a fallen state, Adam and Eve were no longer on the same level. She
had just doomed herself, yet Adam said I would rather lower myself, doom myself, than be
without her. Rather than staying obedient to God and His word, rather than trusting that
somehow someway God will work it out, Adam joined her, and doomed himself.
Singles take note
You singles take this example; you are not to be unequally yoked, your relationship with the Lord
will suffer greatly, and so will your life. The moment you chose to disobey God's, just for the sake
of not being alone, you will lower yourself and suffer the consequences.
They didn’t immediately die / took Adam 900 yrs to die
I point out, that Eve ate, and she didn't die immediately. What did she think, Satan was right.
God told me a story, for I didn't die. He feeds it to Adam, and he doesn't die either. For them,
they think since there were no immediate consequences, they were ok. People do the same, we
all do it, we disobey God and because there are no immediate consequences we think everything
is all right. That His word was just a recommendation, a suggestion, or that it doesn't apply to us
because we are special, or sometimes, people think god is blessing me, He isn't punishing me. It
took Adams sin about 900 years to catch up to him, but it eventually did, and He died. Maybe it
was decades before Adam started to notice the lines in his face, the aches in his joints. It has
been said that: Time is the rate of decay, and the clock stated ticking in the garden. How long
until Adam realized he was dying.
Sin fun for a season
It is true with mans sins. Sin is fun for a season. The parties are fun, for a while, and then they
become empty. The relationships are fun until one day they notice something isn't right with their
bodies, until the reality of a lifetime responsibility is announced to them. The promotion was
great, the money is great, until you lose your family because you were never there.
As we have said, your sin will never forget you, sin is patient, it will wait and as long as it has to,
or a little as it may, but it will reveal itself, and you will have to live with it.
3.) The Covering - 3:7-8
(Genesis 3:7 NKJV) Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they
were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.
Covered in Fig Leaves / Mans efforts to cover their sin
Covered themselves with Fig Leaves - ouch. That would be like wearing a burlap bag for
underwear; a very rough and itchy material. What we have is Adam and Eve trying to cover their
sin with their own efforts, it doesn't work. We say I'll just be a nice guy, do good works, serve at
the church, donate to a good cause - but it is all Fig Leaves. Your works and efforts are all futile
before the Lord; they can't cover your sin.
(Titus 3:5 NKJV) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through
the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
(Titus 3:6 NKJV) whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
(Isaiah 64:6 NKJV) But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a
leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
(1 Samuel 15:22 NKJV) Then Samuel said: "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in
obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
Only God can Cover Us
Only the Lord can cover your sin:
(Genesis 3:21 NKJV) Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.
Look to the Other Tree!!!!!!!!!!
Mark 11 Fig tree
We always associate producing fruit for others, to bless others, but the first person wants to
partake of the fruit you produce, is the Lord. In Mark 11 Jesus cursed the fig tree for not
producing fruit. The leaves were there, but figs to satisfy the hunger of Christ. Our own works
and efforts will never satisfy the requirement for sin, it will only leave us cursed.
(Mark 11:12 NKJV) Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.
(Mark 11:13 NKJV) And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on
it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs.
(Mark 11:14 NKJV) In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it.
It is my obedience that brings fruit for the Lord to partake in. Now if I am not satisfying and
pleasing Christ first, then I'll never be able to satisfy my family. I have to satisfy Christ before I
can feed another.
(Genesis 3:8 NKJV) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in
the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD
God among the trees of the garden.
They Hid / from walking to the bushes
They hid from the Lord. That is what sin will do, it will cause you to hide from Him.
Adam and Eve go from walking in garden, this delightful place, to hiding in the bushes where the
animals were, itching and scratching. Sin robs us, for it takes us out of the sweet communion
with God, the personal fellowship, into hiding.
Genesis Chapter 3: 8-13
Where Are You
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Worshipper / florist not a worker
Adam was to tend and keep it. One of the root meanings of the word “tend” is “worshipper”. You
see sin had not entered into the picture at this point. Adam wasn’t trying to maintain the garden,
fight back the thorns and thistles, Adam was a florist creating beautiful arrangements to be
enjoyed. His labors were a joy, not a burden. Adam was making a beautiful garden sanctuary
where he and his creator could fellowship and commune. A place Adam could worship his
creator.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come: - slide
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline: - Slide
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
(Genesis 3:8 NKJV) And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in
the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD
God among the trees of the garden.
God appeared, as before, walking in some visible form. Perhaps it was in the Shekinah Light as
described in Exodus 33:18-23; 34:5-8,29; 40:34-38.
time set apart,
the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day - Adam and Eve had a time set apart,
set aside, everyday to walk and fellowship with the Lord. Do you have that time set apart, set
aside, everyday to fellowship with the Lord?
when things aren't right in my life
One thing I noticed, like Adam, when things aren't right in my life I am hiding in the bushes itching
and scratching, avoiding God. I don't look forward to our time of fellowship; I am not hungering
for the Word, or communion with God. When that is happening in my life, it is a clear indicator
that I am in rebellion; there is some sin in my life. Sin will always do that, sin will keep you from
God, it will cause you to hide from Him. As it has been said, this book (Bible) will keep you from
sin, or sin will keep you from this book.
(Genesis 3:9 NKJV) Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are
you?"
Where are you / Greatest Failure / He still came – fellowship - florist
I am thankful for a God who says, “where are you?” A God who comes looking for man, even
after his greatest failure. A God who still came to meet Adam just like they always did. Adam
and God walked in the garden, they had sweet fellowship and communion. Adam would tend the
garden, not as a laborer, but as a florist, to turn it into a sanctuary, a place he would worship and
fellowship with his Creator. Even in Adam’s sin, God still comes to meet him for their time of
communion and fellowship in the garden.
Adam-bomb / all humanity plunged into darkness / Countdown
The Adam-Bomb had detonated, all of humanity would suffer from that moment on, yet God still
comes looking for Adam; come walk with me. The countdown had begun for those 6 hours, those
6 cruel hours; the countdown had begun where the Creator would cry out, My God, my God, why
hast thou forsaken me? The clock had started, all of creation was plunged into the darkness of
sin, yet God still comes to meet Adam for their daily communion, he still would love Adam to say,
“where are you?”.
Man would never seek out God
The Lord has to come to us, for man would never seek out God:
(Romans 3:10 NKJV) As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
(Romans 3:11 NKJV) There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
(Romans 3:12 NKJV) They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does
good, no, not one."
Horrible sin / Where are You / come walk / my creation
What you have done is horrible, yet I still come to you, and still say, “come walk with me in the
cool of the day.” I’ve created you Adam, you are mine, and some day I’ll buy you back with my
blood, and you will be twice mine.
Still says it today / bought with the blood / white as snow
The Father still says that today, to us here, “where are you?” Come walk with me. Yes what you
have done is terrible, but I have created you, you are mine, and I bought you back with my blood,
that makes you twice mine.
(Titus 3:4 NKJV) But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,
(Titus 3:5 NKJV) not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through
the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
(Titus 3:6 NKJV) whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
(Isaiah 1:18 NIV) "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
God comes to us / where are you / don’t run / I can make all things new
God comes to us, like He came to Adam and says “where are you?’, don’t run, don’t hide, I can,
and I will make all things right, all things new, I am your Father, you are my child, I love you.
Never leave you / I’ve sought you out
God says ‘I will never leave you, nor forsake you, remember you are twice mine”. I’ve come
seeking you out, remember that, you did not seek me out, I was the one who said, where are
you?
He kept His appointment garden / 6hours / meeting us
We can be thankful that just as He kept His appointment in the garden that day to meet Adam,
just as sure as He kept His divine appointment for those six hours that Friday, He will keep His
divine appointment to come get us or meet us.
Adams Story / your story/ where are you / come walk with me
The Garden was Adam’s story, the thanksgiving story that He came and said, “where are you”.
Everyone has a thanksgiving story, a story of God saying to us, where are you, come walk with
me.
take the example of the Father,
Christian, take the example of the Father, seek out those who are hiding. Don't be afraid to go
look for a brother or sister and say, "where are you"? Where are you at with the Lord these
days? Where have you been?, we haven't seen you at church. Satan's great lie to you will be,
don't do it, people will accuse you of being a sin-sniffer. That is a lie from the pit, don't fall for it!
Look at the Father; He is searching for them because of His love for them.
(Genesis 3:10 NKJV) So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid
because I was naked; and I hid myself."
(Genesis 3:11 NKJV) And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten
from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?"
God starts a dialog / place of confession / lose its power over me
God starts a dialog with Adam to bring Adam to a place of confession. For when I bring my sin to
God, confess it to Him, it is then and there that sin will lose its power over me, its grip that it has
on me. The final forgiveness of sin has been given to us already, on the Cross. However,
confession is for me, it keeps me in communion with the Lord.
1 John 1:9 - the Christian bar of Soap:
(1 John 1:8 NKJV) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
(1 John 1:9 NKJV) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
(1 John 1:10 NKJV) If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
"to agree with / to protect and to provide
The word “confess” means "to agree with." For when I come to the Lord, agree with Him that
what I did was wrong, it is there that the Father can start to instruct me, talk with me, show me
why these things are not good for me, and how to escape the snares of them. Remember God
calls sin, sin because He hates what sin does to our lives, its destructive power. God calls sin,
sin to protect and to provide for us. He wants to protect us from the pain that sin brings, and He
wants to provide for us the wonderful things that come out of being obedient and not entering into
that sin. Pick any sin, and you will see: Fornication; God wants to protect you from AIDS, STD,
heartbreak, and He wants to provide you that joy that comes out of waiting for your spouse,
enjoying that unity with no junk or gunk to defile it.
He disciples us, instructs us
We agree with God, this is wrong, and He disciples us, instructs us on how to live, and the power
that sin has over us is diminished or utterly crushed, and we now have power over that area of
our lives. If you do not confess, then sin keeps its hold over you and your life.
(Genesis 3:12 NKJV) Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she
gave me of the tree, and I ate."
blame shifts / God is silent with Adam
Adam isn't agreeing here, instead he blame shifts. Adam blames Eve and God, but takes no
responsibility in the sin - he plays the victim. It is important to note, God doesn't answer him
back, God turns His attention to Eve (verse 13). God is silent with Adam. Anytime you are in sin,
and God is silent, that is your place to speak, to confess.
ultimately blaming God
Now, anytime you blame another for your sin (your spouse, your parents, your pastor, your boss)
you are ultimately blaming God. You are blaming God, for it was God who put that person in your
life. Who allowed that person to be a part of your family, to be your co-worker, to come into your
life, God did! So if you are blaming someone else, saying I wouldn't have been in that situation if
it weren't for them, I wouldn't have sinned if it wasn't for them, you are really blaming God for He
allowed them in your life.
Free choice / escape temptation
God gives you free choice, for it to be love, there has to be free choice. It was called the tree of
knowledge, for it meant that Adam and Eve knowingly chose to do their own thing, in direct
rebellion to God's Word. God gives you that free choice, but He always give you a way out, He
empowers you with His Spirit to escape the snare.
(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who
will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that
you may be able to bear it.
(Hebrews 2:18 NKJV) For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.
(Hebrews 4:15 NKJV) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all
points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Victim / The "If Only" cry of the unrepentant / Perfect Environment
Temptation comes, man enters into it, knowingly (with his free choice), but then man wants to cry
out and say he/she was a victim. If only my parents would have been better parents, if only I
didn't live where I did, if only I was this, or wasn't this, If only you were there, or if only you weren't
there - I would not have sinned. The "If Only" cry of the unrepentant, non-agreeing, sinner.
Listen believer, Adam and Eve had the perfect parent, they had the perfect body and mind, they
lived in the perfect environment, yet they knowingly chose sin, they knowingly chose to do their
will, not the Father's will for their life. Each and every one of us could have all the so-called
perfect situations, but it still comes down to, I knowingly chose to do this. For it is the lust of the
flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life:
Flesh / Eyes / Life
Every sin will fall into 1 or all three of the following:
(1 John 2:15 NKJV) Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is
not in him.
(1 John 2:16 NKJV) For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the
Father but is of the world.
(1 John 2:17 NKJV) And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Lust of the Flesh - Feels good, tastes good. She "saw that the tree was good for food"
Lust of the Eyes - looks good, plus it was encouraged by the one who was the most beautiful in
the garden – satan. Looks can be so deceiving. "that it was pleasant to the eyes"
The Pride of Life - makes you wise, look at me! "a tree desirable to make one wise"
Adam makes the "I'm a victim cry
Adam makes the "I'm a victim cry". If only it wasn't for her, if only it wasn't because of you - God.
Nothing has changed in 6,000 years, except maybe for the fact that now there are millions of
people and books that will support this deception and will say "its not your fault", "If
Only…………".
Believer
Believer, you need to be entering into the dialogue of confession. The dialogue of I agree with
you Father, your ways are true and right, I was wrong. It is in this dialogue that you can be freed
from the power that sin has over your life, for it is in this dialogue that the Father can instruct and
empower you on how to escape and overcome this sin. Don't hide in the bushes when you enter
in sin, meet the Father and walk with Him at that appointed time, so that He may disciple you.
Church
Church, listen to me, don't play into another person's sin. Call sin for what it is, sin. Don't get
sucked into their blame shifting. When you do, you enable them to continue in their
unrepentance. You rob them from having to seek the Father, of coming before Him and starting a
dialogue with Him that will lead them into discipleship and communion by the Father. You rob
them from entering into the only power that can free them from their sin. You may help for a
week or month, but eventually, unrepented sin will be repeated again, and again, for it has never
been dealt with in power, the power of the Spirit of the Living God.
(Genesis 3:13 NKJV) And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have
done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
Eve plays the blame game. But notice here again, God doesn't respond, God is silent.
Genesis Chapter 3:14-25
The Curse and The Promise
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Worshipper / florist not a worker
Adam was to tend and keep it. One of the root meanings of the word “tend” is “worshipper”. You
see sin had not entered into the picture at this point. Adam wasn’t trying to maintain the garden,
fight back the thorns and thistles, Adam was a florist creating beautiful arrangements to be
enjoyed. His labors were a joy, not a burden. Adam was making a beautiful garden sanctuary
where he and his creator could fellowship and commune. A place Adam could worship his
creator.
But now the fall has happened, and everything has changed.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
The Curse of the Serpent
(Genesis 3:13 NKJV) And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have
done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
(Genesis 3:14 NKJV) So the LORD God said to the serpent: "Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle, And more than every beast of the field; On your belly
you shall go, And you shall eat dust All the days of your life.
Satan gets no say
I like this, Satan gets no say in the matter, he doesn't get to throw his comments in. Today he is
the accuser of the brethren, but his inputs have no bearing on the matter, he may speak, but he
really doesn't get any say in the matter. Satan accuses, God overrules, washed with the blood,
spotless bride. Say another word about my bride and I will crush you right here!
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between
your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
the greatest news / "protevangelium
Right after the first and greatest failure, comes the greatest news. This verse is the first mention
of the gospel. The theologians call this verse, the "protevangelium" which means the first gospel.
The good news, the Savior will come, and He will make things right.
Capital S
Notice the capital S in the word Seed? Jesus is the promised Seed:
(Galatians 4:4 KJV) But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under
the law,
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (Satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (Satan) head, And you (Satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Head & Heel
Jesus will crush the head of the devil. The head in represents authority, and Satan's authority
over man is based on sin, and it was crushed on the cross. But, the price to crush the power of
sin was high, the only begotten Son paid the ransom.
(Isaiah 53:5 NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for
our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:6 NKJV) All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has
laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
relationships that were based on sin
It says there will be hostility between Satan and the woman. Eve and the serpent had this great
conversation of enlightenment together at the tree, they hung out together, and now they are
mortal enemies. I find that so true, relationships that were based on sin, relationships that are in
direct violation to God's word, turn hostile. They turn bitter and resentful. Relationships steeped
in sin, turn ugly at some point, because someone will be left hurt and empty, it is just a matter of
time.
The Curse of the Woman
(Genesis 3:16 NKJV) To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your
conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you."
Child birth wasn’t suppose to be this painful, thus it had to be entrusted to a woman.
Desire / Context of Curses / to Overflow / but will submitt
Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." The root of this word desire
means to "run after or over - to overflow". Some commentators say the desiring of the husband is
a blessing to make-up for the pains of childbirth, but I don't see that. If we look at the curse upon
the Serpent and Adam, there are no blessings imparted, just pure curse, and I believe the context
stays the same of Eve, the desiring of her husband, is part of the curse. Her desire will be too
great, and it will cause problems in the marriage. See the context, she will desire her husband,
but he will rule. The woman's desire in the relationship is to control the relationship, to overflow it,
to run after it or over it, to the point where she controls it, but God you will want to control it, but
you will have to submit and let your husband lead it, for the woman can be easily deceived as she
was in the garden. I always ask the husband, how would you like to be your wife, and have to
submit to you? For most women, the pain of childbirth is nothing compared to the pain of
submitting to their husband.
Establish order in the marriage / couldn’t be left to itself
So God here is establishing the order in the marriage. God establishes it here, because it
couldn’t be left to itself. Put two sinners together and there will be problems. Both people will
want to rule, lead the relationship, but God says the woman is to submit, and the man is to lead,.
The Curse of Man
(Genesis 3:17 NKJV) Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your
wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of
it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life.
earth will not yield to the touch of Adam / mans protection
From paradise to prison. Adam goes from being a florist to a laborer. The earth will not yield to
the touch of Adam like it did before the fall. The earth, and all of creation suffered in the fall also.
This toil and labor is not just punishment, but it is also for man's protection. Too much time in the
hands of any sinner is dangerous.
Sin of Sodom:
(Ezekiel 16:49 NKJV) "Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food,
and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
(Ezekiel 16:50 NKJV) "And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I
saw fit.
America today / welfare / agricultural / children
Look at America today, all the free time we have leads people into some of the most wretched
activities. That is why I hate the Welfare System; it gives too much free time, for most it is get the
check and have all the free time to go get in trouble with sin. As America moved from an
agricultural nation, to an industrial nation, it went from all the long hours tilling the soil; to the 40-
hour weeks we now know and love. The abundance of time and money followed, and so did the
availability to sin. I tremble for our children today, life is handed to them, and they don't know
what it means to do without. And so like Sodom, America follows.
Curse & Marriage / Overflowing / Explore / Work
Now lets look at the curse upon the man and the woman, and apply them to marriage. The
woman's desire is in "totality - overflowing - running over" She wants all of her husband, but the
man is out working in his field, and it leads to problems. The woman wants more time, but the
man is out working. Husbands you have to give your wife that time, she wants you to explore her,
to know her totally. A woman wants to be understood. How often do you hear a man saying I
just want to be understood. The problem in so many marriages is the man gets into that I must
work mentality. I must take care of he family. She wants to talk but he wants to work.
Example
A clear example is when a woman has some problem. She tells the husband the problem, and
immediately he wants to fix it, but she really just wants to be heard. She says you won't believe
what happened on the way to work, I took 5th Avenue and somebody ran me off the road. The
husband says don't take 5th avenue anymore, that’s the road to the High school and there are too
many inexperienced drivers on that road. Take ABC Street it is safer. To the husband, the
problem is solved, the work is complete, and now they can move on to something else. But for
the woman, she wasn't looking for a fix to the problem, she was looking for to be heard, to be
cared for, to be comforted, that someone cared about her getting run off the road, not getting to
work.
Guys, this is part of the curse; you have to recognize that difference.
effected by the curse / something is missing / expect fulfillment
We are in a fallen state; we are effected by the curse as long as we are in these tents, women will
desire to rule and men will toil. As we studied before, man is not all there; something is missing,
the rib taken out of his side. Man is missing something and that was before the fall, before the
curse. As we studied, our fulfillment must be in Christ, our complete satisfaction must be in Him.
If you expect fulfillment in your mate, you will be let down tremendously. It is in Christ , where
there is fullness of joy.
books and seminars / expectation was so high
Now hear me clearly, books and seminars can be wonderful and fruitful, but here is the problem
with so many of them; they produce unrealistic expectations. People place all this emphasis and
energy on the seminar or book, they think once we get to this seminar or read this book together,
our marriage is going to be fixed. But a week or month, or maybe even six months after the
event, and things haven’t been fixed, or even worsened. The let down is greater because the
expectation was so high. The hope that this is going to fix everything, and it too ends in failure.
trying to transform your mate and marriage / lower your expectations
Listen husband and wives; let these verses transform your marriage, rather than you trying to
transform your mate and marriage. Man and woman are in a fallen state, suffering from the
curse. As we have studied before, we must find our fulfillment in Christ, we cannot find it in our
mate, children, or the field we work in. When you lower your expectations of what you expect
from your mate, then you will be free to enjoy each other without unrealistic expectations.
book are Band-Aids / commune with Him
Don’t go from book to book for they are Band-Aids, but stay focused on receiving your ultimate
fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Stick with the word, stay in the word; let the word change you from the
inside out. The Bread of life, God Himself working with you, for God will never give His Word
independent of Himself. This Bible isn’t just for knowledge about God, but it how we commune
with Him. As you walk with Him you will be fulfilled and then be able to enjoy each.
responsibility to take your wives deeper in Christ
Now husbands, being that you can't fulfill that desire your wife has, it is your responsibility to take
your wives deeper in Christ. That is where she will find fulfillment, and it will only come through
Him.
Men find a ministry together / perfect match
Men, if you are work, work, work, and your wife is I need more, I need to talk, I need to feel
wanted and useful, your marriage will suffer greatly. She, like you, was created for a purpose to
fellowship with her creator. Fellowship in the word, in prayer, in worship, and service. Men find a
ministry that the two of you can serve in together. A ministry you serve in together is a perfect
match; you get to be a man and work, work, work, and she gets to be a woman and talk, be
needed, be useful, have a purpose.
challenge you
Do a ministry that causes you to seek the Lord, need His power in the ministry. Don’t just serve
in ministries that doesn’t challenge you.
ministering to your kids
Now how about serving and ministering to your kids? Absolutely, pour yourself into them with
everything you got, it is your responsibility, but be careful. Be careful for if all your ministry and
life is serving your kids, then you kids will grow up thinking they are the center of the universe.
Balance it, let them see you serve others and they will grow up to copy the pattern you have set
for them. Find a ministry to serve in once a week or, if time doesn’t permit, than once a month,
teach your kids to be others-centered.
living separate lives
Secondly, I know too many husbands and wives who everything was their kids, they served and
lived every moment for their kids, and the day their kids move out was the day that that the
couple realized they invested nothing in their relationship. They become strangers overnight,
they had nothing in common, they couldn’t communicate, for they all they ever talked about was
the kids. Dinner then becomes a struggle to talk about something. Television becomes the
excuse not to talk as the couple just sits and watches. Going to work a little earlier, and staying a
little later helps reduce the time of being together. You are two people living in the same house,
but living separate lives.
keep dating
Couples it is so important to keep dating, to keep getting to know each other. Husbands your
wife wants you to explore her, know her more, every detail of her. Wives the husband wants to
know that you look to him as the leader of the family. Go have coffee together, take a walk in the
park, leave the kids with the sitter, they’ll make it a night without you. Some parents don’t want to
hear that, that their kids can make it without them for a moment. It is a pride thing on the parent's
behalf; they want to be needed so much that the kids can’t live without them.
seek first the Kingdom of God
Take all these things and apply them in your marriage. Husbands and wives, seek first the
Kingdom of God and all the things need for your marriage will be added on to it. When two
people say the Lord is our thing, and the kingdom is our destiny, wonderful things happen in the
marriage.
(Genesis 3:18 NKJV) Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat
the herb of the field.
Crown of Thorns
The thorns, the same things our Lord would take, the crown of thorns. The crown of thorns
represented that He took the curse upon himself, paying our price.
(Genesis 3:19 NKJV) In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread Till you return to the
ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return."
God confirms death
God confirms His word to Adam, the day you eat it, you shall surely die. You may not feel it now
Adam, but the decay has started, and someday your life as you breath it now will end. People
may think they are getting away with their sin, but little do they realize their life is starting to
decay, and their world beginning to crumble.
(Genesis 3:20 NKJV) And Adam called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother
of all living.
Eve Life Giver
Adam gives his wife a new name. She goes from "woman" meaning out of man, to "Eve" giver of
life:
(Genesis 2:22 NKJV) Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her
to the man.
(Genesis 2:23 NKJV) And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
1st mention / "protevangelium" / the One who will crush
Adam sees that from Eve life will come. I believe that Adam doesn’t' just see childbirth, but he
sees the first mention of the gospel, the "protevangelium". He sees that from Eve, the giver of
Life will come. That from her, the One will come who will set all things right again. The One who
will crush the serpents head, the authority of sin and death will be crushed. Adam looks at her
and says in her is the ultimate giver of life, who we know His name to be Jesus. Maybe Adam
didn't know His name would be Jesus, but he knew He would be the Savior. Adam now looks at
his wife a whole new way, the Seed will come through her.
exceedingly respectful
Husband, do you see that, do you look at your wife and see Jesus in her? You, I, we, need to.
We better be exceedingly respectful and careful with our relationship with her. Christ dwells in
her, flows through her, has His hand upon her. When we see that Jesus is in her, it will change
our marriage greatly, for the greater.
(Genesis 3:21 NKJV) Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and
clothed them.
Adam saw the price of sin.
I wonder if Adam and Eve were there to see the death of the animal. If so, Adam saw the price of
sin. God replaces the fig leaves, Adam and Eve's works to cover their sin, with the shed blood of
an animal. As we have said before, only God can cover our sin; that day in the garden He cover
it with a sacrificed animal, 4,000 years later He will cover man’s sin once and for all with His own
blood.
(Genesis 3:22 NKJV) Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of
Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of
life, and eat, and live forever";
(Genesis 3:23 NKJV) therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the
ground from which he was taken.
Adam at 10,000 years old
If Adam had stayed in the garden, and ate the fruit of the tree of life, then he would have stayed in
his fallen state forever. He would live the curse forever. His body would continue to decay, but
he would never die, imagine Adam at 10,000 years old? God had to drive him out to save him
from that.
(Genesis 3:24 NKJV) So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the
garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree
of life.
That tree is now in heaven (Rev 2:7 & 22:2), for the healing of the nations.
(Revelation 2:7 KJV) He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh
will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
(Revelation 22:2 KJV) In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare
twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
two angels in this garden
Interesting there were two angels in this garden, and there were two angels at the garden tomb
on the day of resurrection. In Eden, the way was closed to the tree of life, but at that garden tomb
the way to the tree of life was opened to all that would receive it.
We now have victory over the curse, Ohh death where is your sting!
(1 Corinthians 15:55 KJV) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
Genesis Chapter 4
The Story of Cain and Abel. Genesis 4:1-16
The First Offering
We left Genesis 3 with Adam and Eve being driven out of the garden, which was an act of mercy,
in that they couldn't have eaten the "Tree of Life", and be left in their fallen state (on a steady
decay) forever. It would have been a horrible existence of life. God's plan was that man would
be brought out of this state, into a new state, a glorious resurrected body, a body not made with
hands but eternal in the heavens.
Genesis 3:15 is this hope, a promise that sin and death would be crushed by the Seed that would
come from the Eve.
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
(Genesis 4:1 NKJV) Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and
said, "I have acquired a man from the LORD."
(Genesis 4:2 NKJV) Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a
keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Cain – I have gotten the Lord
Cain - in the original Hebrew the translation is, "I have gotten a man, the Lord". The word “from”
is not there in the original. Eve may have thought this was the promised Seed, we read about in
Genesis 3:15.
Abel - vainity
Abel, means "vanity" - which means it is not all that I thought it would be. Eve, after raising Cain
for awhile, realized I am not raising the Lord, but another sinner such as myself. Cain had her sin
nature when he was born. We never have to teach our kids how to be sinners, it just comes
naturally. Parents look at that little baby when they are first born and say ohh my little angels, but
then a few years later they are wondering if that child is demon posed. No they’re not, they are
just little sinners, who one day will grow up to be adult sinners.
Cain was a farmer, Abel was a shepherd.
(Genesis 4:3 NKJV) And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an
offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.
(Genesis 4:4 NKJV) Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the
LORD respected Abel and his offering,
(Genesis 4:5 NKJV) but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very
angry, and his countenance fell.
2 offerings / confusion / let Bible interpret
We see two men, and two offerings. Cain brings the fruit of the ground, Abel the firstborn of his
flock. Abel's was accepted and Cain's was rejected. Why? This often causes confusion, and
challenges of God's fairness. Lets let the Bible interpret the Bible for us.
By faith / Rom 10:17
(Hebrews 11:4 NKJV) By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained
witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.
It was by faith, what Abel did; he did by faith, which is why it was a more excellent offering to the
Lord. And how does faith come to us, by hearing.
(Romans 10:17 NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God doesn’t play games
God would have told them the offering to bring. God is just and fair, He would not have played
games with them. He wouldn't have said, ok bring me and offering that is pleasing to me, but I
am not going to tell you what it is that I want, you go figure it out. That is not the character of
God, that is the character of a mental case.
Example given / Cain saying a better way
Romans 10:17, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. God told them what to
bring, what was acceptable. The example was given when God replaced Adam's work, his fig
leaves, with the tunics of a lamb that was slain. Cain is essence is saying, no I have a better
plan, a better way. I have something that is better than shedding innocent blood, the sacrifice of
an animal.
Without shedding of blood
(Hebrews 9:22 NKJV) And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood
there is no remission.
Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin. Cain said let me bring my offering,
my way, to please God. God had established all the way back then, that only the shedding of
blood will be an acceptable offering, he is preparing the way for the ultimate sacrifice, the ultimate
blood shed, His own.
Abel did – though didn’t fully understand
Abel, by faith, did what God said to do. Maybe he did not fully understand it, but by faith he did it
anyway. There is application there for us, maybe we do not fully understand why God tells us to
do this, or to not do that, but by faith we do what He tells us knowing that He will work it out of our
good, because He is always concerned about what is best for us.
Abel’s Offering - sacrifice / Cain’s Offering - proud
Abel brings his offering, a lamb no doubt (flock - usually relates to a lamb in the Scriptures). He
brings an offering from his flock. His offering cost him, he had to sacrifice, he had to take one
from his flock. Cain brings his offering, proudly, look at my works, look at the works of my hands,
my toil, my laborers, look at what I have done.
My way is better / Taking life horrible / Sin is dreadful
But Cain, he says my efforts; my plan is better, what is wrong with my fruits and vegetation that I
bring before you. After all God, taking life, that is dreadful, that is horrible. God says exactly, it is
dreadful, it is horrible, and that is the point God makes, that is His point about sin, sin is dreadful,
sin causes death, sin brings sorrow, sin brings sickness and pain. God is not trying to be gory,
He is illustrating to us what sin is; sin is dreadful, it ruins lives, run from it.
The Lamb
But the lamb will cover it all:
The lamb for me - Genesis 4
The lamb for the family - Exodus, it was to be put over the doorpost
The lamb for the nation - Leviticus, the Day of Atonement, the sacrificed lamb
The Lamb for the world - John 1:29, Behold the Lamb of God
One Lamb, to cover it all.
My Way will do it
Plenty of people today think their way will get them to heaven, God says there is only one way to
please my judgment of sin, through the Lamb of God.
(Genesis 4:5 NKJV) but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very
angry, and his countenance fell.
(Genesis 4:6 NKJV) So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your
countenance fallen?
(Genesis 4:7 NKJV) "If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well,
sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
God seeks him out
Look, God is seeking Him out. God is seeking to engage him in the dialogue of repentance and
agreement, so God can forgive him, discipline him so he can walk in victory.
It’s your choice / Satan waits
It is your choice however. Chose to do well and you will be lifted up, chose to do wrong, and your
sin will rule over you and your countenance will fall.
(1 Peter 5:8 NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour.
1st mention / Created for fellowship
First mention of depression in the Bible, his countenance fell. Sin and rebellion will cause
depression in your life. You were created to fellowship with God, anything less will leave you
lacking and wanting, depressed, angry, and sorrowful.
Depression in America / Prozac
Today it is reported that some 18 million people in America are suffering depression, and 1 in 8
Americans will seek treatment for depression in their lifetime. Many of them will be prescribed
medications such as Prozac and Zoloft. Let me share some comments on depression from
Prozac, as I pulled the information from their Website:
• Everyone can suffer depression.
• 80% of depressions can be treated by medication, psychotherapy, and life style change
(in the form of diet, exercise, and meditation).
• It is triggered in most cases by outside influences such as psychological stress, physical
illness, other medications, and drugs and alcohol.
• The inside influence is an imbalance in the an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters,
the chemicals that allow nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other. Many
scientists believe that an imbalance in serotonin, one of these neurotransmitters.
• Prozac will raise the level of serotonin in the brain, thus relieving the depressed state..
Seratonin
The drug companies are saying that, Seratonin is a chemical in your body that drops when you
are depressed. When it drops you will become restless, moody, and sleepless just to name a few
ill effects. The key point here (in the majority of cases), it is the depression that causes the
sarratonin to drop; it is not the drop in the sarratonin that causes depression. Prozac will raise
your saratonin level, to lift you up, but it is the depression that dropped the sarratonin level to start
with.
The following are for reference only; some of it is clinical science, while some of it is man's
philosophy: (Seek spiritual guidance and medical guidance together if you are suffering
depression)
The Following has been Extracted from Prozac.com, in it's entirety.
An Illness, Not a Weakness
Depression is a common medical illness. More than 18 million Americans suffer from some
type of depression, and one in eight people needs treatment for depression during his or
her lifetime. Depression is not a character flaw. It is neither a "mood" nor a personal
weakness that you can change at will or by "pulling yourself together."
Depression has become a topic of great interest. Regularly, we hear it discussed on TV
and see it written about in newspapers and magazines. With the growing awareness that
depression is an illness with probable biological causes, people may find it easier to share
their fears and feelings with their family and others.
Who Gets Depressed?
Everyone can - including famous people. There are several well-known persons among the
list of those who battled the debilitating illness:
Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Vincent Van Gogh, Mark Twain, Winston Churchill,
Marilyn Monroe, Ernest Hemingway - the list goes on. In fact, anyone can develop clinical
depression. Generals (George S. Patton), princesses (Diana Spencer), presidents (Calvin
Coolidge, Richard Nixon), scientists (Primo Levi, Salvador Luria), prime ministers (Winston
Churchill, Menachem Begin), athletes (Ty Cobb), and dancers (Vaslov Nijinsky) have
suffered from depression.
No occupation, race, gender, or age is immune to this illness.
Bad News and Good News
The bad news:
• Depression is a recurring illness. If you have one episode, there is a 50% chance you will
have another. The chances of recurrence increase to 70% after two episodes and 90%
chance after three episodes.
• Untreated, depression can last up to 6 months or longer. For as many as 10% of people,
depression may last much longer.
• It's estimated that 15% of people with chronic depression commit suicide.
• The social stigma surrounding depression is still substantial and may prevent people from
seeking treatment. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that two-thirds
of people suffering from depression are without the help they need.
Now the good news:
• Of all the medical illnesses, clinical depression is one of the most treatable. More than
80% of people with depression can be treated successfully with medication, psychotherapy,
or a combination of the two.
• Treating depression reduces the risk of recurrence.
• Changes in lifestyle - such as exercise, yoga, meditation, and a healthy diet - can help
relieve stress, which can lead to depression.
• Early treatment can help you feel better and return quickly to work and regular daily
activities.
• Early treatment can help stop the symptoms of depression from becoming more severe
and more long-lasting.
• Treatment can reduce thoughts of death, and lower the risk of suicide.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with depression, effective treatment
strategies that can help you feel good again are available. With treatment, you can take
back your life, feel renewed, and enjoy your family, friends, and community.
Remember:
• Depression is a real illness, not a weakness.
• Depression is not something you've brought on yourself, and it doesn't reveal a personal
weakness or an inability to cope.
• There is a high rate of success for treatment of depression.
Causes
As with illnesses such as diabetes or high blood pressure, depression can "run in your
family." You may remember a family member who suffered from severe headaches,
constant fatigue, or nervousness, or who had a tendency to drink too much. It is quite
possible that person was suffering from depression. Sharing your family history with your
doctor will help him or her reach an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment for you.
However, depression can occur in people with no such family history. Depression can be
brought on by a number of factors working individually or in combination. Some of the more
common triggers of depression are:
• Severe psychological stress: Relationship problems, death in the family, divorce, financial
difficulties - any long-term stressful situation, even prolonged, cloudy winters.
• A physical illness or condition: Cancer, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, rheumatoid arthritis,
chronic fatigue syndrome, major surgery, or multiple sclerosis.
• Medications: Some cardiovascular drugs, hormones, birth control pills, and even some
nonprescription pain remedies may cause or worsen depression.
• Alcohol or drug abuse is both a cause and an effect of depression.
Sometimes depression appears to have no trigger. While depression is not fully
understood, a growing amount of evidence supports the view that people with depression
may have an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters, the chemicals that allow nerve
cells in the brain to communicate with each other. Many scientists believe that an
imbalance in serotonin, one of these neurotransmitters, may be an important factor in the
development and severity of depression.
You may recognize one or more of the symptoms or causes of depression in yourself, a
loved one, or a friend. Acknowledging depression is the first step in becoming free of it.
Millions of people have already been successfully treated for depression.
How it works
Depression is not fully understood, but a growing amount of evidence supports the view
that people with depression have an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters, the
chemicals that allow nerve cells in the brain to communicate with each other. Many
scientists believe that an imbalance in serotonin, one of these neurotransmitters, may be
an important factor in the development and severity of depression. Prozac may help to
correct this imbalance by increasing the brain's own supply of serotonin. Some other
antidepressant medicines appear to affect several neurotransmitters in addition to
serotonin. Because Prozac selectively affects only serotonin, it may cause fewer side
effects than other types of medications. While Prozac cannot be said to "cure" depression,
it does help to control the symptoms of depression, allowing many people with depression
to feel better and return to normal functioning
The Following has been Extracted from www.adhd-becalmd.com in it's entirety.
Scientifically Speaking:
How is our brain affected in stressful situations?
In handling stress the brain uses large quantities of certain chemicals called
NEUROTRANSMITTERS. (Neurotransmitters induce or inhibit impulses in your brain.) At some point,
the amount of stress we endure causes the brain to run out of these chemicals.
The human brain is very capable of automatically manufacturing the quantity of chemicals it needs IF
it is given the raw materials (nutrients from foods) to do so.
However, because of the number of stressful situations we are daily faced with, because of the world
we live in, a normal diet does not supply enough of the raw materials the brain needs to manufacture
enough of these chemicals, or Neurotransmitters, that the brain NEEDS and MUST HAVE to function
normally. With the amount of Modern Stress our bodies face every single day, we would have to
consume approximately:
Sixteen pounds of fish, Two gallons of whole milk, Two to three pounds of cheese, One to two
pounds of turkey, EACH AND EVERY STRESS FILLED DAY, just to keep our Neurotransmitter
levels normal. Or, we could accomplish the same thing by taking 3 beCALM'd TM capsules!
(Recommended dosages are anywhere from 1-6 capsules each day.)
How are our bodies damaged by chemicals released by our own brain?
The body responds to EMOTIONAL stress exactly like it responds to PHYSICAL danger or stress.
Your body produces chemicals for extra strength or energy. This chemical reaction to stress is a
physiological process that has evolved over millions of years. In other words, The Brain Is Reacting
To Todays Problems With Yesterday's Primitive Responses.
When Stress was primarily physical - when cavemen actually fought tigers - they had to fight the tiger
or they had to run from it. Today's modern Stress is of a different nature. We don't do physical battle
with tigers, we do mental battle with freeway traffic, unending meetings, or jobs that have no future.
SO THE BODY DOES WHAT COMES NATURALLY....... It still pumps high energy chemicals (those
needed in running or fighting) into our bodies BUT we don't fight anything, we don't run. We sit there
in our cars or at our desk, actually boiling in the chemicals our own body has released. These
chemicals, called ADRENALINE & DOPAMINE, which power the "fight or flight" alarm reaction, can
do great damage to all the internal organs, especially the heart.
What happens when our brain runs out of these chemicals?
Most of us never really understand our own bodies and how marvelously they are designed. We
never even think about why we feel different ways. We know how love makes us feel but do we know
what actually takes place, within our bodies or brain, that creates the feeling. Same thing with anger.
In freeway traffic, a car swerves in front of us. We possibly yell at the person, we feel our faces
getting hot and we can even feel our heart beating faster. But do we really understand what actually
takes place inside of our bodies, that makes all of these PHYSICAL changes happen to us. These
Feelings All Come From The Brain And They Are Chemically Induced!
When our brain runs out of these chemicals or when different chemical levels decrease or increase,
we experience things like anger, lack of sleep, irritability, anxiety, depression, insecure feelings and
fear, not to mention the constant release of ADRENALINE which causes high blood pressure, heart
disease, gastrointestinal disease and dozens of other problems. (Over 75% of all medical
appointments made in America are directly related to Stress caused illnesses.) There are 5 main
chemicals or neurotransmitters in the brains emotion center. The OPIOIDS, GABA, SEROTONIN,
DOPAMINE and NOREPINEPHERINE. When these chemicals are lowered a dangerous cycle begins
within our bodies. The cycle is called the Stress Cycle and the damage it causes is deadly.
When Neurotransmitters Are Depleted, What Happens To Our Bodies?
Any type of Stress causes the OPIOID levels to diminish. This creates a sense of urgency in an
individual. A person also becomes irritable, easily angered, easily loosing their temper. Many people
find relief from these feelings from an artificial opioid that is released by Alcohol or other drugs.
Low OPIOID levels automatically causes an increase in DOPAMINE release. This causes a feeling of
alertness and anxiety. Continued Dopamine release causes emotional fatigue. When Dopamine is
released, it is exactly the same chemical response as that following a small cocaine use. (The
greatest natural Dopamine release happens at the moment of sexual climax.) Low OPIOID levels also
causes the lowering of the GABA levels. When this occurs, feelings of anxiety, insecurity and
unexplained panic are felt. The most obvious feeling is deep Depression.
Low GABA levels cause an increase in NOREPINEPHERIN release. This encourages quick,
emotional response like anger and discourages slower, deliberate (logical) thinking. High
NOREPINEPHERIN causes ADRENALINE to be released, which causes the heart to beat both faster
and harder and causes red corpuscle reserves to be placed in the blood stream. It causes energy
sources, nutrients, and oxygen to be diverted from functional organs straight to the muscles. Here is
where High Blood Pressure, Strokes and damage to a number of pressure sensitive organs occurs.
(The continued diversion of oxygen and nutrition from the functional organs causes them to become
diseased.)
Low GABA levels causes a decrease in SEROTONIN levels which makes sleep difficult to
impossible. Such a person also exhibits feelings of irritability and a lack of rational emotion. The
SEROTONIN reduction further pushes the OPIOID levels lower. Thus, the Stress Cycle repeats with
continually increasing intensity.
The Stress Cycle figure, above, shows the portion of the central nervous system, which applies in the
case of stress. The subsystems shown are an essential part of man and have been used over the
years to produce (among others) the psychophysiological mechanisms necessary for man to defend
himself.
In the stress cycle "feedback" loop, the following reactions occur, all of which are obviously useful to a
person threatened by a predator or a mortal enemy. However, they are harmful to the modern person
under long term stress as exemplified by the [bracketed] statements :
* Stress causes the opioids (endorphin, enkephalin, etc.) levels to diminish. The lower opioids levels
create a sense of urgency. This sense of urgency is usually expressed as the need to respond to
certain physical demands, e.g., if one drinks a couple of quarts of iced tea at 10:00 in the evening, he
or she will usually awaken in the middle of the night with a very strong sense of urgency. As soon as
the body's need has been taken care of, the sense of urgency goes away.
If the sense of urgency is initiated by continuing stress and there is no way to relieve it, the stress
"signal" goes from the opioids to GABA to Norepinephrine to Serotonin to Opioids to, etc. And, a loop
occurs. Consequently, there is a continued diminishing of the chemicals until the system's control of
emotions is lost. [The individual first becomes irritable, easily angered and finds him or herself
suffering from easy loss of temper. Many find relief in the artificial opioid released by alcohol,
tetrahydroisoquinoline, and thus become alcoholics. Others turn to opiates such as heroin, morphine,
etc. Some find relief in carbohydrate bingeing. Most, rather noisily, just ruin their careers and their
marriages.]
* The lowering of the opioids causes an increase in dopamine levels and a decrease in GABA levels.
This produces a combination of alertness and anxiety. [The so called adrenaline rush is in large part
the feeling of exhilaration caused by the dopamine release. It is exactly the same chemical response
as that following a small cocaine use. (i.e. cocaine use causes dopamine to be released in larger
amounts than the body requires for normal functioning such as sexual climax or appreciation of
beauty.) Continual extra dopamine release causes emotional fatigue which can become debilitating. It
can also lead to anhedonia, in which case, he or she can no longer enjoy beauty, music, or even love,
in the extreme case. Continuous anxiety from GABA reduction can lead to depression and feelings of
inadequacy.]
* The lowering of the GABA levels causes the norepinephrine levels to increase and serotonin to
decrease. The increase in norepinephrine causes adrenaline to be released and the reduction of
serotonin makes sleep difficult to impossible. [It is important to note that serotonin is a sleep enabling
neurotransmitter, not a sleep inducing one. A lack of serotonin makes sleep very hard to achieve.
Once the serotonin becomes available, the body demands the sleep it now badly needs. When this
has been done the person feels rested and Fully refreshed. However, if the stress feedback
continues, the lack of sleep can cause a great deal of damage to the body.]
* The increased norepinephrine encourages a quick, emotional response (e.g. anger) and
discourages slower, deliberate (logical) thinking. [The anger released by the lack of the opioids is
triggered more rapidly in the presence of the norepinephrine.]
* The adrenaline release causes the heart to beat both faster and harder and causes red blood cell
reserves to be placed in the blood stream. It causes energy sources, nutrients, and oxygen to be
diverted for use by the muscles. This deprives functional organs such as the liver, the digestive tract,
etc., from their needed resources. This results in the person being able to make an almost super
human (though perhaps illogical) physical response to the threat. [When the heart is required to beat
faster and harder over long periods of time, the illness commonly known as High blood pressure
usually follows. Unfortunately, this condition is usually not reversible. In the extreme case, this
condition can cause strokes and damage to a number of pressure sensitive organs and passages. It
can also cause damage to the heart. Further, the continual diversion of oxygen and nutrition from the
essential organs causes those organs to become diseased.]
* The norepinephrine increase causes the serotonin levels to decrease. This makes sleep difficult or
impossible. The serotonin reduction further modulates the opioids downward. The cycle therefore
repeats with continually increasing intensity.
Decades of university research have been required to find the means by which the "cycle" is kept
from repeating over and over. If this cycle were not brought under control grave illness would
obviously occur as is does when we are under unrelenting stress. As early as 1928, Dr. Hans Selye's
research showed that when stress is long term in nature, the "stress management chemicals" (as he
called them), which enable the body to maintain control, are depleted. Ultimately, the correction can
no longer be made. Selye showed that once these chemicals are totally depleted, the subject dies!
The last 20 years of research by many notable scientists such as Dr. Gerald Kozlowski, Dr. Terry
Neher, and Dr. M. L. Barbaccia found that the stored metabolites can be replaced from normal diet,
but only very slowly. They further found that the slowness was not due to a "lack of production facility"
but rather a "lack of raw materials". While the quantities required vary from one individual to another,
getting these additional nutrients from food is generally difficult. The average person would require
several pounds of exotic fish, a quart of milk, and a variety of other high cholesterol and high fat
content foods daily.
Thus, condensed supplementation is required to allow replacement of the necessary metabolites
during modern times of continuing stress. This can be done by taking each of the individual
supplements individually or by taking a single capsule containing all of them. An example of the latter
is beCALM'dª (patented and other patents pending).
Whether through numerous single component capsules or the patented "all in one" capsule
formulation, the supplements must contain: d/l-phenylalanine and l-glutamine in combination with
Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Calcium, Magnesium, and Chromium, and Folic Acid in proper proportions.
This formulation of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, has been shown to enhance the opioids,
GABA, dopamine, norepinepherine, and serotonin availability.
Particular emphasis must be made that in the original beCALM'd, a large amount of d-phenylalanine
was used to inhibit the opioid destruction enzyme, enkephalinase. This was done as the principal
opioid precursors were so expensive as to be very cost prohibitive. A new discovery (patent pending)
found that a small amount of d/l-phenylalanine combined with requisite amounts of folic acid provide
the precursors necessary to increase the opioid supply by up to 500%. Thus, the opioid shortage is
normalized rather than controlled by patient demand (PRN.)
Inspection of The Stress Cycle shows how such action works. This having been done, the human is
able to withstand a great deal of modern constant stress without suffering the effects described
above.
CONCLUSION: Today's preferred treatment of stress related disease is not a new miracle drug or
even significant life-style changes. (The latter often cause more stress than they cure.) It is nutritional
supplementation with common items we all consume every day. . . but not in large enough quantities.
For instance, the primary ingredient in NutraSweet is l-phenylalanine. It is found in fish and algae's in
the d/l form. L-glutamine is found in certain fish, (e.g. mackerel). Vitamin A is found in fish liver oil,
carrots, and diary products. Vitamin B6 is found in liver, eggs, and diary products. Magnesium is
found in many fruits and nuts. Calcium is found in a wide variety of diary products. Chromium is found
in shellfish and corn oil. And, l-tryptophan is found in milk, cheese, ham, and turkey. If one were to eat
the quantities of the above foods that are required to handle modern continual stress, he would
become obese in very short order and would probably have cholesterol and triglyceride counts that
would be life threatening.
The concentrated nutritional supplementation is generally water soluble and to take too much is a
practical impossibility. Thus, this type of nutritional supplementation is perhaps the most safe,
practical means of managing this century's new form of stressors.
The highly stressed individual needs the above nutrition to survive. As a benefit he will be healthier
and, because he is not on one emotional binge after another, happier
Cain filled with anger / Before seek Medicine
Now we read in out text, Cain was filled with bitterness and anger and his countenance fell,
depression set in. Before you go seeking medication, you need to search your heart and see if
there is any bitterness and anger that is at your door, which you haven't dealt with.
We all suffer / King David
We all go through bouts of depression, King David did, and what did he say
(Psalms 42:5 NKJV) Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God, for I shall
yet praise Him For the help of His countenance.
Praise Him
David is saying, when I am depressed I am going to Praise Him, for praising Him will lift my soul.
It is when you are depressed that you must make it to church to worship, you must arise early
and spend time with Him, you must put the praise music on in the house or car. Praise Him and
watch your countenance change.
Dwell on what is good / Let it go
And equally as important, you must dwell on what is good. Which means you have to let it go.
Quit dwelling on what has bothered you, quit replaying it in your mind. Whether it is your job,
your spouse, past relationships, let it go. Dwell on the things that are good and you will be lifted
up, dwell on the things that are bad in your life, and you will be depressed. If you want to make
yourself miserable, think about yourself.
(Philippians 4:8 NKJV) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there
is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things.
Your body can only take so much stress, and you add stress by going over and over your
problem. The chemicals in your body become imbalanced, and then you drive yourself deeper
and deeper. Let it go, dwell on the things that are good, that are pure, that are lovely.
Medicine is a good gift / but search your heart first
There are too many Christians on medication that really don't need to be, but there are some that
have a chemical imbalance in their bodies that can be adjusted by medicine:
(James 1:17 NKJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with
whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
There are those whose bodies have been whacked by the fall, but I urge all of you to search your
heart, and make sure you are not holding bitterness and anger in your heart. Make sure that the
real issues are dealt with. I have talked with many a people who were depresses and on all kinds
of medication, but they started to seek the Lord, soak up His word, apply these words, and they
tell me they eventually were free of all the medication.
(Genesis 4:8 NKJV) Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they
were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
(Genesis 4:9 NKJV) Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I
do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
(Genesis 4:10 NKJV) And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's
blood cries out to Me from the ground.
Cain doesn’t repent – but retaliates / He wouldn’t let it go
Cain doesn't repent, instead he retaliates. Rather than recognize his sin, rather then enter into
that dialogue of repentance with the Lord, Cain attacks the one who he thought was his problem.
Let anger and hostility continue to live at your door, and eventually get to you, and cause you to
do foolish things. Cain wouldn’t let it go, and it drove him deeper into his depression
Abel’s blood / Jesus’ blood
Abel's blood spoke of judgment, Jesus' blood spoke of forgiveness, of being washed with the
blood:
(Hebrews 12:24 NKJV) to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better
things than that of Abel.
That person who hurt – washed in the Blood
If there is someone in your life that you are mad at, angry with, complaining about, then be
careful, it will rob you. Let it go today, don't let it rob you. That old spouse, boyfriend or girlfriend
- the blood of Christ cries out better things, forgiven, washed away, put away.
(Genesis 4:11 NKJV) "So now you are cursed from the earth, which has opened its mouth
to receive your brother's blood from your hand.
Cain’s ground – became his curse
Cain you have cursed yourself. The very ground that brought forth the fruit you were so proud of,
has cursed you. Watch your pride, it will become your curse.
(Genesis 4:12 NKJV) "When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you.
A fugitive and a vagabond you shall be on the earth."
Sin will leave you a fugative
Look what sin will do to you; it will leave you a fugitive and a vagabond. You will never have a
place to rest, you will always be running and striving to find peace. Look at Saddam Hussein,
from the palace to a spider-hole, those photos on CNN, speak loudly of someone who was a
fugitive and a vagabond. Sin will leave you like that.
(Genesis 4:13 NKJV) And Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can
bear!
(Genesis 4:14 NKJV) "Surely You have driven me out this day from the face of the ground;
I shall be hidden from Your face; I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth, and it
will happen that anyone who finds me will kill me."
Sorry he got caught
My punishment is so great. There is still no repentance; it is still all about Cain. He is not saying I
have offended you my Lord, but woe is me for my punishment.
Cain hides his face from God
Notice Cain's sin; he said I won't look to you no more. It is not that God won't look at him no
more, but Cain will not look at God no more. Remember our God is the God who says, "where
are you"?
Sin turns him paranoid / two things
They shall kill me Cain says, even though God never said it. Sin turns him paranoid. Today
people sin, and think everywhere they go, people are talking about them. They think people have
special meetings and just sit around the whole time taking about them, they convince themselves
of this, and they never come back into fellowship. Two things, who cares what anyone thinks of
you, and secondly, who cares what anyone thinks of you. They are all a bunch of sinners just like
you. It is all about you and the Lord, come back to Him, He awaits you with open arms.
(Genesis 4:15 NKJV) And the LORD said to him, "Therefore, whoever kills Cain,
vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold." And the LORD set a mark on Cain, lest
anyone finding him should kill him.
(Genesis 4:16 NKJV) Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the
land of Nod on the east of Eden.
God still gracious
Even in his rebellion, God is still gracious and says not to worry, I will protect you. What else God
is saying here is this, Cain, I will be the one that deals with you, not another.
Cain still departs
But even with all that grace, Cain still departs from the Lord, says see ya Lord, I'll do it my way,
don't need to hear anymore of this stuff.
Nod - wandering
He goes to Nod, which meant, "wandering". Run from the Lord, and that is where you will end
up, wandering and roaming, never able to rest.
Genesis 4:17-26
The Way of Cain
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Last Study / Recap Cain & Abel
As we studied last time, Abel brought a more excellent sacrifice than Cain who brought his works,
who came saying look what I’ve done. In hatred towards his brother he raises up against him and
kills him in the field. God gives him opportunity to repent, but the Scriptures tells us that Cain
went out from the presence of the Lord.
Imagine growing Up / 1st born of a Woman
Imagine what it must have been like growing up being Cain and Abel. It was just the four of them.
They were the first born of a woman, for Adam and Eve were created by the Father’s hand, and
Cain and Abel were formed by sexual union.
Look what I found / Adam not Excited
They had this incredible garden for a playground. I could imagine them bringing home giant
grasshoppers, turtles, baby animals, and giant mangoes. Mom, dad, look what we found, isn’t it
cool. Mom would do what mom’s do, ohh boys that is great, wow good job. But, Adam, I would
imagine Adam saying (in an unexcited way) that’s cool boys, real cool. They would say mom
what is up with dad, why does he act so weird some times, how come he doesn’t get excited
about stuff like this.
Adam never the Same Again / Living in the Light
One of them one day would understand why dad didn’t get so excited, the other, he never would.
You see after the fall I believe that Adam was never the same again. There really is no mention
of Adam walking with God again in the cool of the day like he did before the fall. Adam would
always be living in the light of, “I remember what it was like before the fall.’. He would remember
walking side by side with the Father, talking, laughing, asking, that sweet communion and
fellowship. But after the fall, things would never be the same, Adam was now living in a fallen
state, subject to the consequences that came with the fall.
Adam would take the Lamb
Things of this world wouldn’t excite him anymore, how could they after he had walked so close to
the Father. The boys probably thought it strange when every now and again he would pick up a
lamb and head into the woods, alone, to go be with his Father. Eve would say, boys give your
father some time alone. Then Adam would come back with peace and contentment on his heart,
but it would always be temporary.
One son would Get it / The other Wouldn’t
One son, Abel, he would get it, he would see and understand why Adam would take the lamb,
Abel would take it to heart what it all meant. But for Cain, he would never get, it would always be
his way, and in this study we will see his offspring never got it either. Abel got it, he saw his
father, he knew what it meant, what the lamb was for. So when God said bring me an offering, he
knew it was a lamb, and a lamb only.
The lamb was a substitute / God never indebted to Man
The lamb was a substitute of what was to come, Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. The lamb
sacrificed was a picture of God being the giver, the life-giver, the greatest gift, His only Son. But
for Cain it was his religion, his works trying to appease God. His way was giving to God, making
God the receiver, thus the indebtor, that is the root of all false religions, I’ve done my works, now
god responds to it. God is always the initiator, He is always the giver, man is always the
responder, the one who is indebted to Him. He is not the magic genie in a bottle. People think
they can pay Him something, but what could man ever give god that could compare to what He
had given, the blood of His only Son.
(Genesis 4:16 NKJV) Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the
land of Nod on the east of Eden.
(Genesis 4:17 NKJV) And Cain knew his wife, and she conceived and bore Enoch. And he
built a city, and called the name of the city after the name of his son; Enoch.
And Cain knew his wife - Where did Cain get his wife. Adam and Eve lived 930 years, they had
plenty more kids, so Cain ended up marrying one of his sisters.
Enoch - This is not the Enoch that walked with God and was not in Chapter 5, we will study that
Enoch in the next study.
Cain defies God Word / Builds a City – not a Vagabond
We see Cain immediately seeks to defy God’s word again. God said Cain will be a fugitive and a
vagabond. (Genesis 4:12 NKJV) "When you till the ground, it shall no longer yield its strength to you. A fugitive and a
vagabond you shall be on the earth." What does Cain do, I’ll show you differently, I won’t build a home, I
won’t even settle for building a palace, I’ll build a city. I’ll name it after my son, and prove that the
name of Cain will continue on, it will not be lost in the winds of wandering. I will build my
kingdom, I don’t need to live in yours god.
Cain Builds Own kingdom / plans to Leave his Legacy / Passes it down to family
Cain attempts to build his own kingdom, not the Kingdom of God. He dedicates the city to his
son, not to the Lord. Men have been doing this ever since. They like to call streets and cities by
their own name or by names of loved ones. Men love to leave what they consider their legacy.
This lineage we read of Cain, is the end of their lineage, he left no legacy of honor, but a legacy
of evilness.
We will soon read about Abraham, a man who left the city to go find the place God had for him.
We see Cain left God behind to build himself a city.
Take note, as we see Cain turn from the Lord, we see it passed down through his family.
(Genesis 4:18 NKJV) To Enoch was born Irad; and Irad begot Mehujael, and Mehujael
begot Methushael, and Methushael begot Lamech.
Every word has meaning and application in the Scriptures, it is there by design:
Irad – means “wild ass”
Mehujael – means “blot out God”
Methushael – means “they are all dead who are of God”. (it is a skeptical attitude, he is saying
where is your God, we don’t see Him.)
Lamech – means “poor and vulgar”
What a nice family tree.
Cain’s Smart Mouth
I can trace this all the way back to Cain and his smart mouth. God seeks him out after he spilled
his brothers blood on the ground, God looks to start a dialogue of confession so He can forgive
him, and what does Cain do, he smart mouths God, “what, Am I my brothers keeper? Cain’s
arrogance and lack of respect for his brother and God is passed right into the family gene pool,
and he produces offspring with characteristics of rebellion and arrogance, offspring who are wild,
who blot out God in their lives, who mock God and His people, kids that are vulgar and wretched.
(Genesis 4:19 NKJV) Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah,
and the name of the second was Zillah.
First mention of polygamy in the Bible
Lamech is the first mention of polygamy in the Bible, it is a direct violation of God’s intent for man
and woman:
(Genesis 2:24 KJV) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall
be one flesh.
We will read of polygamy in the Scriptures, but we never see God’s approval of it, nor His
encouragement of it. Polygamy brings too many problems. As for Lamech:
Adah – means “ornament”, I’ll just call her “eye candy.”
Zillah – means “shabbiness’. The root of the word means “temptress or undesirable.”
Lust of eyes / 1 is not enough
The lust of his eyes, he just couldn’t get enough. One wasn’t enough, Lamech had to have more.
The meaning of these wives name leads me to believe his wives were not helpmates, but
satisfaction of his flesh. Eye Candy, and temptress. Or could it be that Zillah was his first wife,
but since she was shabby or undesireable, he had to go get an ornament for the arm, a woman to
satisfy his flesh.
Porn Largest growing Industry on Web / Men Compare
Today the largest growing industry on the Internet is pornography. There are Christians falling
left and right. What happens in pornography, the man starts to compare his spouse to the
images he sees in pornography. The resultant, problems in the marriage, because one is not
enough anymore. Precious people run from the pornography, it will rob your marriage. I might
add, run from the “soft pornography”
Zillah the Servant
Or could it be that Adah was his mistress type, sexual gratifier, and Zillah was his servant. Zillah
you take care of the kids and the house cleaning, Adah meet me for a nightcap. Today it is I’ll be
working late, can you get the kids to practice, have dinner in the microwave – when really they
are having an affair. Sadly it is not just the men anymore, statistics say affairs are equal with both
husbands and wives.
The two shall be one, in all things, in all ways. It is God’s design. Both husband and wife, don’t
look to compare, and cleave and leave all others. Whether in your mind or literal. One is
enough, and it is hard enough to please just one.
(Genesis 4:20 NKJV) And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents
and have livestock.
Possession / no more Community
Jabal – had livestock, and that word livestock means, “possessions.” So here we see the start of
people gathering possessions to make them happy. Jabal’s family and descendants lived in
tents. Prior man had been living in a community, now they go live out on their own, gathering
possessions.
(Genesis 4:21 NKJV) His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who
play the harp and flute.
1st Muscian / Arts / Professsion – not Worship
Jubal – he was the first mention of music and being a musician. But the phrase “he was the
father of all those who play the harp and flute’ leads us to believe he was the first to make a
living, a profession, out of being a musician. In the context of all the line of Cain, we read about
the beginning of professions to make a living.
Using Your gifts
For Jubal he did play his music to worship the Lord, but for financial gain. There is nothing wrong
with earning a living with your gifts, but it is a shame when people only use their gifts for
themselves, and not for the blessings of others, or to bless the Lord.
Worship is giving God the best that He has given you. Be careful what you do with the best you
have. Whenever you get a blessing from God, give it back to Him as a love-gift. Take time to
meditate before God and offer the blessing back to Him in a deliberate act of worship. If you
hoard it for yourself, it will turn into spiritual dry rot, as the manna did when it was hoarded (see
Exodus 16:20 ). God will never allow you to keep a spiritual blessing completely for yourself. It
must be given back to Him so that He can make it a blessing to others. Oswald Chambers
Arts are Powerful / Karl Marx / Jesus in our Midst
The Arts are a wonderful thing, they are powerful also. Karl Marx, the Father of Communism,
said give me a nations music and poetry, and I will have their hearts.
Music and Arts are most beautiful when they are used to bring praises to the Lord. Jesus is in the
midst of every worship song, He is leading the Praise.
(Hebrews 2:11 NKJV) For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He
is not ashamed to call them brethren,
(Hebrews 2:12 NKJV) saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to
You."
(Genesis 4:22 NKJV) And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every
craftsman in bronze and iron. And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.
(Genesis 4:23 NKJV) Then Lamech said to his wives: "Adah and Zillah, hear my voice;
Wives of Lamech, listen to my speech! For I have killed a man for wounding me, Even a
young man for hurting me.
This verse here is called “The Song of the Sword”, in ancient writings, it is the story of the first
killing with a sword.
Tubal-Cain – he is the one who developed “cutting instruments”. This is the first production of
arms in the Bible. It was a cutting instrument to dominate man.
Lamech used it to cut a man, to kill a man. He says this arrogantly, prideful, I’ve killed another;
I’ve taken a life.
(Genesis 4:24 NKJV) If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, Then Lamech seventy-
sevenfold."
seventy-sevenfold. - 70 times 7. Jesus used this phrase for forgiveness; Lamech used it for
vengeance.
Family Line / from Building a city to Killing / Our Culture Esteems these things
Now look at this culture of Cain, this family line, they all start with the rebellion of Cain, and the
wild ass Irad. Building a city and dedicating it to your family, gathering possessions, music for
self, weaponry, womanizing, self-righteousness (if you mess with me you’ll get seventy fold of
vengeance). See, our culture esteem these things highly, we see it all around us today, and it
was all birthed in rebellion, I’ll do it my way.
Adams Heartbreak
I think I can imagine just a little what it must have been like for Adam as a father watching Cain
grow up; as he would watch Cain have no heart for the things of the Lord, as he would watch
Cain go the way of the world. Adam walked with the Father, he knew experientially that anything
else was empty; he would live his life in the light of knowing what it was like before the fall, and
long for that day when things would be right again. But it would break his heart to watch Cain find
his purpose in life, in the world, apart from God. Parents don’t settle or rest in that your child at
some point in their life prayed to receive Jesus so everything is all right. That is too risky, look at
Cain. How Cain could not grow up with a heart for the Lord is beyond me, he had parents who
walked with God, and lived in a wonderful environment, yet he did turn his face from the Lord, he
chose his will, his kingdom. Parents the world has a tremendous pull on your children, we must
labor in prayer, the Word, and example interceding for them in this battle that is against them.
Cain’s on the throne / Dark Clouds Forming
Cain and family may have thought they were on the throne of their lives, look at what we can do,
what advantage is there to have to fellowship with this God, follow his ways. What they never
noticed was that the sky was getting gray, dark clouds were forming, and a day of destruction
was coming upon the earth, or should I say 40 days and 40 nights. Look at the signs of the day
we live in, the clouds are dark and getting darker, the prophetic clock is ticking and will soon
strike midnight.
But the sun is breaking through, Adam and Eve brought the line of the “life-giver”, Jesus Christ
will come through the line of Seth.
(Genesis 4:25 NKJV) And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him
Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed."
(Genesis 4:26 NKJV) And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him
Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.
Seth – means “appointed”. God will always have a remnant, no matter how bad the world may
be or get, God will always have a remnant of those that call upon the name of the Lord.
Enosh - A line that will call on the name of the Lord. A line that will proclaim
This is our lineage, our roots, for we are part of the line that will call upon the name of the Lord.
not our vocation, but our position
Precious people, it is not our vocation, but our position. The world identifies with what a person
does, but we, we as believers identify ourselves with who we follow. Believers follow Jesus
Christ, we identify ourselves with Jesus Christ. It is through this identification that we can be free
from the culture of Cain.
Cain’s Lineage / it Ends here
Cain lineage we see the first architect, first agricultural, first artist, first industry. Cain’s work was
his whole purpose and pattern for life, and it led to death and damnation. Next chapter, chapter
5, we will read the genealogy of Adam, it will start with Seth, and have no mention of Cain. Cains
lineage ends right here.
Last mention of Cain:
(1 John 3:12 KJV) Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because
his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
(Jude 1:11 KJV) Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for
reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
Seth left no Mark / Christian called no earthly good
Seth left no mark, all it says was through his line they began to call upon the name of the Lord.
So many times we hear, you Christians are so heavenly minded you are no earthly good, you are
not leaving your mark in industry or the workplace, what’s wrong with you Christians. Well, our
mark is not to be made in this world, if god blesses you in the industry – great. But let it not be
the primary or focal point in life. Christian where is your mark being made, here or in eternity?
As for me, I’m living to leave a mark in eternity.
May we be known as people who call upon the name of the Lord.
Let it be that we are known as a people who it is the Lamb, and Only the Lamb.
Genesis Chapter 5
Genealogy of Adam / Enoch Walked with God
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Last Study / Recap Cain & Seth
In chapter 4 we saw the first murder in the Bible, and then we studied the ungodly line of Cain. A
line that was self-seeking, wicked and evil. A line that thought they were on the throne of their
lives, saying look at what we can do, what advantage is there to have to fellowship with this God,
and follow His ways. What they never noticed was that the sky was getting gray, dark clouds
were forming, and a day of destruction was coming upon the earth, or should I say 40 days and
40 nights. But we ended chapter 4 with Adam and Eve having another son, and through his line
would be a people that call upon the name of the Lord.
Chapter 5 overview / internal code / Enoch
Chapter 5 is a stopover before the flood, the judgment of God on a wicked and perverse
generation. Chapter 5 looks like only a list of boring reading, but it is woven with an internal code
by Divine design. Chapter 5 also has a phrase that you can almost skip over, until you consider
its power:
(Genesis 5:24 NKJV) And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
So chapter 5, verse 1, the lineage of those would call on the name of the Lord. Lets start with
4:25 for context.
(Genesis 4:25 NKJV) And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him
Seth, "For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed."
(Genesis 4:26 NKJV) And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him
Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.
(Genesis 5:1 NKJV) This is the book of the genealogy of Adam. In the day that God
created man, He made him in the likeness of God.
Only place this exact phrase is used elsewhere in the Bible is Matthew 1:1.
(Matthew 1:1 NKJV) The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:
So we have the first Adam, and then in Matthew we see the last Adam.
(Genesis 5:2 NKJV) He created them male and female, and blessed them and called them
Mankind in the day they were created.
(Genesis 5:3 NKJV) And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his
own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth.
Adam was created in God's image, but after the fall Seth is created in Adam's likeness; man born
with a sin nature, needing to be restored back into the likeness of God, and that can only happen
at the cross.
Children created for Eternity
Adam and Eve begot Seth. Men today can build rockets that fly to the moon, buildings that tower
over a hundred stories, planes that can circle the world, computers computing at the speed of
light. But eventually moth, rust, or fire will overcome them all; the only thing man can create that
will last forever, is another soul. I say this for you young people, single people, it isn't just a
moment pleasure, it potentially can be something you are accountable to, for all of eternity. I say
this to you parents, or parents to be, eternity! Invest in eternity with your children, everything else
will be eaten by moths, rust or burn.
(Genesis 5:4 NKJV) After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and
he had sons and daughters.
Cain’s Wife
Adam and Eve had sons and daughters. Where did Cain get his wife, he married one of his
sisters. By the way, do you realize how long Adam was married, and do you realize that He
stayed married to the same woman. 800 some years to the same woman:
Permanent Glue of Marriage
They shall cleave - The word used here for cleave/joined, is the Hebrew word "debaq". It is a
gluing, a permanent glue. Adam and Eve proved out God's purpose for marriage. The two shall
become one.
(Genesis 2:24 NKJV) Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become
one flesh.
(Genesis 2:25 NKJV) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
(Genesis 5:5 NKJV) So all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years;
and he died.
Water Canopy
Man lived long lifespans because of the water canopy that enveloped the earth. This water
canopy would filter out the harmful comic rays such as Ultraviolet light and Infrared light that is
proven to cause cell degeneration, that we call aging. After the water canopy collapses, during
the flood, we see the life span of man fall greatly, rarely seeing anyone living beyond the age of
120 years.
So now Seth, the line that calls upon the name of the Lord:
(Genesis 5:6 NKJV) Seth lived one hundred and five years, and begot Enosh.
(Genesis 5:7 NKJV) After he begot Enosh, Seth lived eight hundred and seven years, and
had sons and daughters.
(Genesis 5:8 NKJV) So all the days of Seth were nine hundred and twelve years; and he
died.
(Genesis 5:9 NKJV) Enosh lived ninety years, and begot Cainan.
(Genesis 5:10 NKJV) After he begot Cainan, Enosh lived eight hundred and fifteen years,
and had sons and daughters.
(Genesis 5:11 NKJV) So all the days of Enosh were nine hundred and five years; and he
died.
(Genesis 5:12 NKJV) Cainan lived seventy years, and begot Mahalalel.
(Genesis 5:13 NKJV) After he begot Mahalalel, Cainan lived eight hundred and forty years,
and had sons and daughters.
(Genesis 5:14 NKJV) So all the days of Cainan were nine hundred and ten years; and he
died.
(Genesis 5:15 NKJV) Mahalalel lived sixty-five years, and begot Jared.
(Genesis 5:16 NKJV) After he begot Jared, Mahalalel lived eight hundred and thirty years,
and had sons and daughters.
(Genesis 5:17 NKJV) So all the days of Mahalalel were eight hundred and ninety-five
years; and he died.
(Genesis 5:18 NKJV) Jared lived one hundred and sixty-two years, and begot Enoch.
(Genesis 5:19 NKJV) After he begot Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years, and had sons
and daughters.
(Genesis 5:20 NKJV) So all the days of Jared were nine hundred and sixty-two years; and
he died.
He died / the consequence of the Fall
Notice the thread woven through here, "and he died". We will read that eight times in this
chapter. The curse and it's consequences come to pass. Be sure Christian, you will reap what
you sow. God's Word is true.
Genesis chapter 5 gives a genealogy of Adam. It is no coincidence the each name has a
meaning, and when you put the names together, it has a message for us.
Adam --Man (is)
Seth --Appointed
Enosh --Mortal
Cainan --Sorrow (but)
Mahalalel --The Blessed God
Jared --Shall come down
Enoch --Teaching
Methuselah --His death shall bring
Lamech --The Dispairing
Noah --Comfort, Rest
(Genesis 5:21 NKJV) Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.
(Genesis 5:22 NKJV) After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred
years, and had sons and daughters.
(Genesis 5:23 NKJV) So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
(Genesis 5:24 NKJV) And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
More is Better / 9 verses
Tonight we shall take a look at the Life of Enoch. Here in America we are so prone to think more
is better and greater. Well here is an end to that misconception. Enoch's is only mentioned a
total of 9 verses in the Bible.
Yet, According to the Scriptures:
• Enoch walked with God.
• Enoch was only one of two men never to see death, for God took him.
• He is listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11.
• The Bible say’s he pleased God (the only other person individually identified as pleasing
God, was Jesus Himself – Matthew 3:17).
Learn from People of Faith
He pleased God, if there is one thing I desire in life, this is it, that I please God. When opportunity
comes, I love to just sit, listen and learn from great men and women of faith. I want to know
anything and everything I can from them, so that I may apply it my life. So I may become more
like my Lord, so that I might do great things for Him. Well, here is an opportunity for us all, as
tonight we study the Life of Enoch.
No Super Saint
He Walked with God, Pleased God, Listed in the Hall of Faith. He sounds like a super saint, a cut
above the rest, a person we can only dream of being. But as we study his life we will find no
mention of Enoch:
• moving mountains,
• raising the dead,
• preaching to the multitudes.
Just and Everyday Believer / Name means train up
Rather we will find that Enoch lived a life no different than any of us here tonight do. He was just
an everyday believer. Enoch means, “to teach, to Train-up, not perfect from the start”. A
perfect description of every believer, we are in training, and I believe each and every one of us
can be like Enoch.
Lets study the Life of Enoch, and see what pleases God, so that we too may please our Lord.
There are 5 points in Enoch's life, 5 points that if we apply to our life we too will be men and
women of faith and please God.
1. Our Relationship with God is Individual and Personal
2. You can have a deep intimate relationship with God and still live life in this world.
3. Enoch was complete in God, he needed nothing else.
4. Your relationship with others is only temporary:
5. Enoch was a prophet: God told him things.
1. Our Relationship with God is Individual and Personal
(Jude 1:14 KJV) And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,
the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Franklin Graham / 7th from Adam
Franklin Graham, son of Billy Graham, was speaking at Harvest Christian Fellowship, and I like
the introduction Greg Laurie gave him. He said if there ever was a man who could say to God,
“my father is Billy Graham, will you let me in because of his work and service, it could be Franklin
Graham, but even Franklin Graham had to develop his own personal relationship with Jesus
Christ
Enoch was the 7th from Adam, only 7th, yet he had to develop a relationship with God on his very
own.
(Psa 49:7 KJV) None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom
for him:
No Grandkids in Heaven
To be a person of Faith we can't claim or seize the blessings of our parents, nor be cursed for
that matter (Duet 24:16). There are many people today who think because there parents are
born-again they are too. Or they think because they went to their parent’s church which was on-
fire they are saved. You need to examine yourself and ask "Is this my relationship with the Lord,
or am I claiming my parents. There are no grandchildren in heaven, only sons and daughters.
Born in America
I read a poll a few years back, thought it ws interesting. Here in America 90% of the people said
they were Christians, but only 80% said they believed in God. What's a Christian?
People think because they are born in America they are automatically going to heaven. Wrong,
you go to heaven because of what you did with Jesus. Did you make Him your Lord and Savor or
not? If your are here tonight, and are not sure if you have, don’t leave this building until you have.
If you need to talk to someone, ask more questions, we will be here for you.
3rd Generation / Chosen Church
Historically, most great church movements die in the 3rd generation. Calvary Chapel is in its 3rd
generation. The first were the hippies getting saved when they were in their 20’s, now their kids
are in their 20’s, and the grandkids are growing up. The kids may remember what it was like for
the church to struggle, and its growing pains, and the great testimonies of families changing, from
drugs, alcohol, divorce. But now the grandkids all they know is this is the way its always been.
All they know is a big building, with lots of people. They know nothing of the early days, and the
church struggles. They take this for granted, or worse, they take on the attitude of being the
“chosen church” Parents, stress to them it is an individual and personal relationship.
#2. You can have a Deep Intimate Relationship with God and still Live Life
in this World.
(Gen 5:21 NKJV) Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.
(Gen 5:22 NKJV) After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years,
and had sons and daughters
Notice verse 22……”He walked with God and had sons and daughters:”
Live in the World – yet still Sold Out
Some people think you can only be one or the other, that you can't live in the world and be 100%
sold out to the Lord. They think there are too many distraction in the world to develop their
relationship with the Lord as deep as it can go. I hear it all the time, people say they can't be
missionaries’ cause they have a family. They say you are so lucky to be single, if I was single I
could study more or serve more or pray more. It’s not so, Enoch had sons and daughters, and he
walked with God. My friend George Markey is a missionary in the Ukraine, with all 9 of his kids
(ranging from age 3 to 21).
Walk with God, He will take care of the rest
Afraid to be Missionaries / Be Single Forever
Some people are afraid to be missionaries because they may end up in the back jungle 1000
miles from civilization and never get to meet their spouse.
I was told a story by a missionary friend of mine. He said there was a young girl who felt called to
go be a missionary nurse in Africa. Her greatest fear was that she would be single forever if she
went to Africa, she literally would be the only white woman within hundreds of miles, yet she
heeded the call of God and went. Imagine her surprise when she showed up at her mission, and
there was the only white man within hundreds of miles; a young missionary doctor, single. He too
struggled with the same fear, but now this husband and wife missionary team give testimony to
the Glory of God.
Enoch had Wife / Kids / Work / In-Laws / Still Walked with God
It's not just for missionaries, Enoch had sons and daughters. That also means that he had a wife,
had to work to provide for them, had to have a place to live, whining kids, sick kids, rebellious
kids, and talk about in-laws, he was 7th from Adam and people were living 700-800 years at that
time. Yet he still walked with God. You can have full time jobs in this world, kids, and that goes
with it, and still have that deep intimate relationship with the Lord. Enoch walked with God, and
had sons and daughters.
#3 Enoch was complete in God, he needed nothing else.
(Gen 5:23 KJV) And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years:
(Gen 5:24 KJV) And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
Notice verse 24………..He walked with God, and was not
In Heaven and Didn’t Realize It
Enoch had such a close relationship with God that he was probably walked right into heaven with
God and didn't realize it. He was probably there for a couple hours and then said well I guess I'll
be leaving now, the Misses is probably putting dinner on the table. And God said Enoch, your in
heaven.
Jude / 7 in Typology / Complete
Jude 1:14 say's Enoch was the 7th from Adam. In biblical typology, 7 means complete. 7
musical notes, 7 colors in a rainbow, 7 days in a week. Enoch was complete because he walked
with God.
Psalm 16
(Psalm 16:11 KJV) Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy
right hand there are pleasures for evermore.God. The word fullness means complete, lacking
nothing, Satisfied. And we get that only in His presence.
10 Verses in the Bible Fullness and Joy
There are only 10 verses in the Bible where fullness and joy are in the same verse. And every
one except one, relates to being in the presence of God. Nine of them all relate to being in his
presence, his fellowship or abiding in Him. The only one that doesn’t is 2 John 1:12. Where John
says he has so much to write this family, but when they are face to face, then their joy will be full
– interestingly the 11 verses leading up, are written to warn them of men who deny that Jesus
came in the flesh, and that they do not abide in him.
How Do I Apply This
• How do I apply this to my life, how am I to be in the presence of the Lord. The Root of the
word “walk” in Genesis 24 gives us a hint. It means “to continually conversant.” Talk with the
Lord in Prayer, let Him talk to you through His Word.
• How else, Matt 25 when I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me
drink…a stranger, naked, sick, in prison…….assuredly, in as much as you have done it onto
the least of my brethren, you did it on to me. In His presence is fullness of joy.
• Those of you who are single, a mate will not satisfy you
• Mothers who feel incomplete without a child, a child won’t
• A different job, house, car….will not bring that fullness of joy….only his presence will.
Enoch walked with God.
4. Your relationship with others is only temporary:
He walked with God, and was not
Relationships Temporary – God is Forever
Your relationship with others is only temporary; your relationship with God is permanent. Do you
think Enoch said not fair God, I don't want to be here with you, I want to be back on earth in the
fallen world with my family.
Look to Heaven / Light Touch
A person of faith will be looking to heaven, they won't be attached to this world, they will keep a
light touch on the things of this earth. Family and friends are great, but don’t put them before God
Cherish Every Moment
Enoch had a family, you may too. Cherish every moment you have with them, don't waste a
moment with them in arguing or strife, because you never know when the Lord may call you
home.
Possessions and Eternal Perspective / Life is Fleeting
He had possessions, you will too. But I can guarantee you this, the second your in heaven you
won't miss them. We lose the eternal perspective, when we begin to hold tight onto self, our
wants and desires, the things of this earth. It is when we see how fleeting life is, that is when we
look eternally, and love flows freely in and through us.
Enoch Sensitivities to Death
I believe Enoch had one of the greatest sensitivities to death as any man ever had. Consider
this, Adam was 622 when Enoch was born. Enoch lived contemporary with Adam for 308 years.
Enoch watched Adam die, maybe not actually, but saw death. People living 8 – 900 years. What
was he thinking as he seen Adams body start to degenerate.
Adam, what are those lines in your face?
What's happening to your hair, its thinning and turning gray?
What do you mean you can’t see that deer. its right there on the hill in front of us.
The only mention of death up to this point was Cain killing Able. Enoch may have said I heard the
story, I don’t believe it, I’ll believe it when I see it.
Enoch No Experience to Death
We have been educated on death by experience; we see it daily around us. Enoch had no
experience on death. Imagine the questions he had for God after Adams death, Lord, why did
Adam die.
Death will Come / Don’t Waste Time
We all know eventually death will come, but never expect it to come tomorrow. Your relationship
with others is only temporary; don’t waste the little time you do have.
5.) Enoch was a prophet: God told him things.
(Jude 1:14 KJV) And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,
the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
Jude 1:14 This is the only prophecy he gives. He didn’t prophecy the flood which happened to
his great grandson. Enoch lived 113 years with Lamech, Noah’s father.
What a Prophet Does
Prophet does 1 of 2 things, or both. They predict the future, or they forthtell God's Word. To do
either, God has to talk to them first.
****Walk with God, and God will show you things The more you spend with Him, the more you
will be like Him. The more you talk to Him, the more you will hear from Him.****
The things God tells you or shows you, you can then tell others and encourage them.
Story of Mike.
A few years back I was working in Florida, and every year they closed the plant down for one week in the summer. I had
planned on going to Russia for a mission trip. But the trip fell through me. The company sent me to Louisiana a for a
week right before the shutdown. As I got on the plane I was praying, Lord you know I really wanted to go to Russia, but
now nothing. What am I going to do with my week off. Then the Lord spoke to me, “go see Mike.” Me and Mike were
best friends, played 1 on 1 basketball, 5 times a week. I hadn’t seen my friend Mike for 6 months, not since I watched the
FBI agents put handcuffs on him, and put him in a Federal prison in South Carolina, prescription drug abuse took him
down. But I knew it was the Lord speaking, I said ok Lord I’ll go, but I need a miracle. For you just don’t ride up to a
Federal Prison and they let you in, you have to go through a bunch of paper work, get on a list, etc, it takes weeks. Plus I
had no way of contacting Mike, cause I couldn’t call him and didn’t have his address with me in Louisiana. But I did my
week, got home, and said I’ll take care of some business and drive the 400 miles up on Tuesday…..The Lord spoke he
said…no Monday. Monday 6am I’m getting ready to leave and I’m thinking out my plan. I figure if all goes well I will be
there around noon and have time to see Him first, and then swing by his lawyers and ask how the appeal is going. The
Lord spoke again….no, the lawyers first, then Mike.
I show up at the lawyers, she says perfect timing I was just leaving for court the rest of the day. She said how did you
hear about Mike. I said I didn’t God told me to drive up here, so here I am. She said sit down, 3 days ago Mike tried to
take his life with an overdose of antidepressants he had hid from the guards. He has been in ICU for 3 days, they had to
pump charcoal through his body to absorb all the drugs, but he has made it, the doctors called it a miracle. She then said
they are returning him to the prison within the next hour. I said I need to see him, can you call the prison and get me in.
So her secretary calls, the prison, said send over all the paper work, and we will expedite it and let him in 24 hours from
now. She hangs up and tells me what they said. I sat there for a minute, and I knew God said Monday. I said will you
call back, and ask again, I have to see him today. She gave me that look…this is a federal prison, not mayberry. But she
did. I hear her on the phone, yes, ok, I’ll tell him. She hangs up, shaking her head, the chief of the guards said ask for
him when you get there, and he’ll let you in.
I get there, they take me in, and lead me to a booth that had a glass wall separating the prisoner from a visitor. I sat there
for a little while, it was dark and dingy. And then they brought Michael out. What a site, his body was all bloated, his face
looked 20 years older, it was sad. When he saw me his jaw dropped, what are you doing here, who told you. I said
nobody, God sent me, he has a word for Michael. I know the thoughts that I think towards you Michael, thoughts of
peace, and not of evil, I have a future and a hope for you. He sat there in unbelief, then he said, I just got back here to my
cell, I was just getting ready to tie a bed sheet to the ceiling and hang myself, 2 of the other prisoners were going to help
me, but then they came and got me, told me I had a visitor. That was July 97, he still writes me today.
Walk with God, and God will show you things.
Conclusion:
(Heb 11:5 KJV) By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found,
because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased
God.
Only 9 Verses / God knows your Name
Enoch is only mentioned in 9 verses, yet he was 1 of 2 that did not see death. He is listed in the
Hall of Faith. I think it is significant he is only mentioned 9. Forget the programmed that more is
always better, the more we hear about someone the more they are. No, God is saying to us, He
doesn't care if nobody else knows your name, He does. And He is pleased with you because you
believe in Him, and walk with Him
1. Our Relationship with God is Individual and Personal
2. You can have a deep intimate relationship with God and still live life in this world.
3 Enoch was complete in God, he needed nothing else.
4. Your relationship with others is only temporary:
5. Enoch was a prophet: God told him things.
(Genesis 5:25 NKJV) Methuselah lived one hundred and eighty-seven years, and begot
Lamech.
(Genesis 5:26 NKJV) After he begot Lamech, Methuselah lived seven hundred and eighty-
two years, and had sons and daughters.
(Genesis 5:27 NKJV) So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine
years; and he died.
Oldest man / God’s Grace
Methuselah means "his death shall bring", the judgment will come. For after he dies, the flood
would come. It is no coincidence that he is the oldest person ever to live, for we see God's grace
and mercy wishing that none should perish, but that all should seek repentance.
(2 Peter 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-
ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
(2 Peter 3:10 KJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with
a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned
up.
Enough / Today is the Day
But eventually God says "enough" and brings judgment on a God rejecting world. As it was then,
so will it be again.
(2 Corinthians 6:2 NKJV) For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped
you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
(Genesis 5:28 NKJV) Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and had a son.
(Genesis 5:29 NKJV) And he called his name Noah, saying, "This one will comfort us
concerning our work and the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has
cursed."
(Genesis 5:30 NKJV) After he begot Noah, Lamech lived five hundred and ninety-five
years, and had sons and daughters.
(Genesis 5:31 NKJV) So all the days of Lamech were seven hundred and seventy-seven
years; and he died.
Adam lived and walked with Enoch and Lamech. Adam could tell them the story of what it was
like to walk with God, side-by-side, and face-to-face. I could picture them asking Adam, what did
His face look like; what did it feel like to touch Him, to hold Him? Lamech would talk about it to
Noah, who would preserve the story for us to hear about today as he would pass it down until it
was recorded here in what we know as the Torah, most likely written by Moses.
(Genesis 5:32 NKJV) And Noah was five hundred years old, and Noah begot Shem, Ham,
and Japheth.
Next study, chapter 6, The Flood.
Genesis Chapter 6
The Flood of Noah’s Day.
Genesis 6:1-13
The Day’s of Noah
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Last Study / Recap
We have seen the creation of man, and then the fall of man, and tonight we see the height of how
far man has fallen.
Chapter 6 overview
In these verses in this study we will see 4 things that were happening in those last days of Noah,
and they parallel in our day also:
• Population Explosion – 6:1
• Strange and Extreme Sexual Behavior – 6:2-4
• Evil Imaginations – 6:5-10
• The Earth Filled with Violence – 6:11-13
Noah End times Believer / So are We
Noah was an End-times believer, a last days believer – before the flood. We too are end-times
believers. Noah’s end-times came with a flood of water, our end times will come with a flood of
fire:
(2 Peter 3:10 KJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with
a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned
up.
Scoffers Then / Scoffers Now
Early in that same chapter we read people were being scoffers, mockingly saying “where is He,
where is this God you say is coming, all things continue as they were from the beginning:
(2 Peter 3:1 NKJV) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of
reminder),
(2 Peter 3:2 NKJV) that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the
commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
(2 Peter 3:3 NKJV) knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
(2 Peter 3:4 NKJV) and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue
as they were from the beginning of creation."
Peter likens our last days to those last days of Noah:
(2 Peter 3:5 NKJV) For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing
out of water and in the water,
(2 Peter 3:6 NKJV) by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
(2 Peter 3:7 NKJV) But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until
the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
Mocked at Rain / Mock Rapture
They mocked Noah, they laughed at his building of the ark. Remember at the time of Noah
building the ark, it had never rained before, only a mist coming up from the ground. For Noah to
say water from heaven was coming was ridiculous to them; just as today it is ridiculous to people
when we talk about the Lord meeting us in the air, snatching us away.
Lord's Time Economy / Jesus Is Coming Quickly
The Lord’s time economy is not ours. A day is like a thousand, and a thousand like a day. So
when Jesus says I come quickly, they mock and say its been 2000 years, where is He, when in
fact it has only been 2 days. Consider that a billion years is just a scratch of eternity, how much
really is 2000 years:
(2 Peter 3:8 NKJV) But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a
thousand years as one day.
(2 Peter 3:9 NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward
us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Peter says it is going to happen, we live in the days that are liken to Noah’s day:
(2 Peter 3:10 NKJV) But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a
great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
(2 Peter 3:11 NKJV) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy
conduct and godliness,
(2 Peter 3:12 NKJV) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be
dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
Jesus Said We Live in Day of Noah / Read the Signs / Rebirth Israel
Jesus said in Matthew 24 that the final generation will be the generation that saw the fig tree
blossom, which is the rebirth of Israel, which happened on May 14, 1948:
(Matthew 24:31 NKJV) "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His
elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
(Matthew 24:32 NKJV) "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts
forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
(Matthew 24:33 NKJV) "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near; at the doors!
(Matthew 24:34 NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take
place.
The Fig Tree is Symbolic of Israel Throughout Scripture
The Fig Tree is Symbolic of Israel throughout Scripture. In Matthew 21 we see Jesus' triumphal
entry into Jerusalem. This was the first time Jesus allowed public worship of Him as the Messiah.
Jesus then goes to the Temple, and cleans house, "you've made my Father House a den of
thieves"! Now, the next morning as Jesus was returning to the city, He sees a Fig Tree that had
leaves, but no fruit, and He curses the tree (Matt 21:18-22). God doesn't take precious space in
His word to curse a fruitless tree, he uses it to make a spiritual application, and we see what that
application is in the context of the rest of the chapter. In the rest of the chapter, Jesus' authority
is questioned by the Jewish leaders, and then Jesus gives the parable referring to Israel's
blindness to Him being the Messiah. The parable is the parable of the Vineyard owner sending
his servants his vineyard (land) and the workers of the land killed them. Then the Landowner
sent his son, and they killed him also (representing God sending Israel first prophets, and then
His Son - but the people of Israel killed them both). The Lord ends that chapter by affirming to
them that He is the Chief Cornerstone that the builders rejected. In this whole context of this
chapter, Jesus is making the point that Israel has missed their Messiah. The point for the Jewish
reader is unmistakable, because a Jew would know from the Old Testament Scriptures that the
Fig Tree represents Israel.
The fig tree was often employed in Scripture as a symbol of Israel (1 Kings 4:25, Hosea 9:10,
Joel 1:7, Nahum 3:12, Micah 4:4, Zechariah 3:10), and the barren fig tree often symbolizes divine
judgment on Israel because of her spiritual fruitlessness despite an abundance of spiritual
advantages (Jeremiah 8:13, Joel 1:12).
The rebirthing happened just like it was prophesied in the Book of Ezekiel;
(Ezekiel 37:1 NKJV) The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me
down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
(Ezekiel 37:2 NKJV) Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open
valley; and indeed they were very dry.
(Ezekiel 37:3 NKJV) And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know."
(Ezekiel 37:4 NKJV) Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the
LORD!
(Ezekiel 37:5 NKJV) 'Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall
live.
(Ezekiel 37:6 NKJV) "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and
you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."' "
(Ezekiel 37:7 NKJV) So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a
rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.
(Ezekiel 37:8 NKJV) Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but
there was no breath in them.
(Ezekiel 37:9 NKJV) Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus
says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."' "
(Ezekiel 37:10 NKJV) So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood
upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
(Ezekiel 37:11 NKJV) Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say,
'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!'
(Ezekiel 37:12 NKJV) "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open
your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
(Ezekiel 37:13 NKJV) "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and
brought you up from your graves.
(Ezekiel 37:14 NKJV) "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you
shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'"
(Ezekiel 37:15 NKJV) Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
(Ezekiel 37:16 NKJV) "As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of
Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of
Israel, his companions.'
(Ezekiel 37:17 NKJV) "Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.
(Ezekiel 37:18 NKJV) "And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, 'Will you not show us what you mean
by these?';
(Ezekiel 37:19 NKJV) "say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand
of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them
one stick, and they will be one in My hand."'
(Ezekiel 37:20 NKJV) "And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.
(Ezekiel 37:21 NKJV) "Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among
the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
2000 Years Without a Homeland
2000 years without a homeland, but May 14, 1948 Israel was re-birthed. How long is a
generation? We can speculate on that, 40years, 50 years, 60 or 70, 100? No matter how you
look at it, it is soon.
Nobody knows, but we are told to look at the signs:
(Matthew 24:36 NKJV) "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
The signs of our times were the same as the times of Noah:
(Matthew 24:37 NKJV) "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
(Matthew 24:38 NKJV) "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
(Matthew 24:39 NKJV) "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son
of Man be.
All Is Well - Tomorrow Will Come
People during the times of Noah were living and saying all is well. We have plenty of food on the
table, the economy is good, I’ll but a house and get married. All is well, tomorrow will come and
all things will be the same. Things looked great to them, but there was a sickness in the culture.
4 Things
In these verses in this study we will see 4 things that were happening in those last days of Noah,
and they parallel in our day also:
• Population Explosion – 6:1
• Strange and Extreme Sexual Behavior – 6:2-4
• Evil Imaginations – 6:5-10
• The Earth Filled with Violence – 6:11-13
1.) Population Explosion – 6:1
(Genesis 6:1 NKJV) Now it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the
earth, and daughters were born to them,
Long Lives
There was a population explosion, and easily so, people were living 900 years and more.
Because the birth rate was greater than the death rate, it was estimated that if they only lived to
400 years old, and had 3 sons and 3 daughters (or 800 years with just 3 kids), at the time of Noah
there would have been 7 billion people on the planet, which we are closing in on very fast, sitting
at 6.5 billion in the world today.
Today's Population
Today’s population explosion: it took from Noah to the Civil War in 1867 to reach 1 billion on the
earth. The reason being of plagues, wars, etc. From 1867 to 1935 to reach 2 billion (less than
100 years). 1935 to 1965 to reach 3 billion. 1965 to 1995 to double to 6 billion. They estimate
that the world will double every 15 years. They estimate they world is growing faster than
250,000 people a day.
2.) Strange and Extreme Sexual Behavior – 6:2-4
(Genesis 6:2 NKJV) that the sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were
beautiful; and they took wives for themselves of all whom they chose.
(Genesis 6:3 NKJV) And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he
is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
(Genesis 6:4 NKJV) There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward,
when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them.
Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
So there is some strange sexual behavior going at this time, so strange God condemns it and
says I must bring judgment upon it.
Hard verse / Line of Seth
This is a hard verse, what are the “son’s of God”. Two possibilities; Some think that it means
people from the line of Seth, for they call Seth’s line the godly line because they began to call
upon the name of the Lord. So Seth’s line began to marry with Cain’s line and became corrupted.
That wouldn’t explain why there would be giants, and it doesn’t match up with expositional
constancy.
Fallen Angels / Book of Job
The other is that these are demonic beings, fallen angels:
“Sons of God” - ben: 'elohiym: when it is used in the Scriptures it is talking about angels, and
more specifically we see them twice along side of Satan:
(Job 1:6 KJV) Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan
came also among them.
(Job 2:1 KJV) Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan
came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
(Job 38:7 KJV) When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Don't Confuse Hebrew and Greek
But when it is spoken of in the New Testament, Sons of God refers to us, the children of God – so
don’t confuse that, the Hebrew in the OT versus the Greek in the NT.:
(John 1:12 KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that
believe on his name:
Insight in NT
We are given more insight to these fallen angels as Scripture helps us to interpret Scripture. In
the context of Jude, these angels were perverse just like the people of Sodom were. And we see
in 2 Peter that these angels during Noah's day sinned against God and were punished.
(Jude 1:6 NKJV) And the angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own abode, He has reserved in
everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day;
(Jude 1:7 NKJV) as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities around them in a similar manner to these, having given
themselves over to sexual immorality and gone after strange flesh, are set forth as an example, suffering the vengeance
of eternal fire.
(2 Peter 2:4 NKJV) For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into
chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
(2 Peter 2:5 NKJV) and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
Also in reference to those who perished in the Day's of Noah, Jesus after the cross went to these
demonic spirits and said, it is over, your power over my people is done:
(1 Peter 3:18 NKJV) For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put
to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,
(1 Peter 3:19 NKJV) by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
(1 Peter 3:20 NKJV) who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah,
while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
Angels can't Marry / Not Sexual
The word here for wives could also just mean woman, so it is not definite that they married. But
note the angels in heaven are not given to marriage, but that isn’t for sure about the fallen angels.
Also, in every reference of the Bible it appears that every angel is male, so they are not sexless.
We can’t say for sure they are not sexual beings. Jesus didn't say the angels didn't have a
capacity for sex. Those angels that appeared in the Old Testament did appear as men when they
made an appearance in a human form. Remember when they came to the city of Sodom. The
men of Sodom came and began to beat down Lot's door that they might know these men. They
wanted to abuse them sexually, thinking that they were mortal men.
(Matthew 22:29 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.
(Matthew 22:30 KJV) For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in
heaven.
Main Point - Bizarre Sexual Behavior
Whatever the case, the main point for us today is that there was strange and bizarre sexual
behavior happening in the days of Noah. How about today’s sexual trends:
• 65% of girls 16 years old are not virgins
• Entertainment is the largest industry in America, and Pornography leads the pack.
• Pornography is the fastest growing industry in the world (by percentile growth).
• 300,000 children under the age of 9 are recruited or sold into Kiddy Porn for the producing of
pornography magazines.
• A dateline special last week showed children in Cambodia being sold into sex slavery. For
600 dollars a man could have sex with a 5 year old virgin.
• 70% of American have seen pornography in the last month. For no longer do you need the
trench coat and drive to the back of a seedy building to see porn, now it is only a click away.
• Snuff Video are available today. A snuff video is of people having sex and some dies either
through bondage or suffocation.
• The Gay Movement
Here are a few bizarre articles in the newspaper this week about sex:
LESBIAN MUM 'BOUGHT SPERM OFF INTERNET'
22 January 2004 - The London Newspaper
A lesbian who conceived a baby after buying sperm on the Internet has given birth to a boy, it was reported today. Jaime
Saphier, 26, from Merseyside, gave birth to her first child by emergency Caesarean section at Liverpool Women's
Hospital.
Her mother Susan Saphier told the Liverpool Daily Post: "Jaime went in to hospital on Monday, but the baby failed to
arrive and the doctors were so concerned they decided to perform an emergency Caesarean. "Jaime said to me 'I can't
believe I'm a mum'. I told her I loved her and felt proud she was a mother. "The baby is beautiful and it felt wonderful to be
holding my grandchild for the first time."
Last year Jamie and her partner Sarah Watkinson went public about their decision to buy sperm from the website
ManNotIncluded.com after they were refused help from their GP. They paid about £1500 for the fresh sperm to be
delivered to their home where Miss Saphier impregnated herself using a DIY kit provided by the website. The site's clients
are able to select the race, eye colour, height and weight, social background and educational achievement of the sperm
donor. The first single-sex couple to have a baby using the website gave birth in December last year, in south Yorkshire.
Man Not Included founder John Gonzalez told the Press Association this was the website's second birth for a single sex
couple. He added: "These births are very, very important to us, it is like welcoming a child into your own family, it is a very
emotional experience for us. "It proves to our critics that we are a reality, not just a concept, and that we do deliver healthy
babies successfully. "I have not spoken to Jaime or Sarah as yet, I think they will just be getting used to becoming parents
at the moment." Man Not Included is expected to open its first clinic, based in Bristol, in March.
Here is the Web-site of Man Not Included:
THE WORLD'S ONLY CONFIDENTIAL & ANONYMOUS SPERM DONATION SERVICE
At ManNotIncluded.com we provide a non-discriminatory, confidential and totally anonymous sperm donation service
available to any woman wishing to conceive, regardless of sexual orientation or marital status (age restrictions apply), or
any man wishing to become a Donor (age restrictions apply & full screening required). We also welcome you if you have a
known Donor and would like us to orchestrate the process for you. Because insemination on our programme takes place
in the comfort of your own home or a place of your choice, it is quick, simple, and very affordable.
3 plans - Premium / Gold / Silver
Premium Package - 9 donation programme
£2947.50 includes
• Access to Donor database
• One to one interview with chosen donor by ManNotIncluded with concluding report
• Access to donor photographs on your behalf by ManNotIncluded with concluding report
• Full Donor testing
• Donor Expenses
• Six one hour telephone counselling sessions
• Fertility screening/Bleeding kits
• Thirty ovulation kits
• Ten pregnancy test kits
• Nine donation collections and deliveries
• Telephone access to midwife
CASH-STRAPPED LESBIAN AUCTIONS HER BODY TO HELP PAY FOR HER
UNIVERSITY TUITION FEES
By Holly Jarvis - London Newspaper - 25Jan04
Student is selling her virginity on the internet for £10,000
A STUDENT is so hard up she has decided to make the ultimate sacrifice ...she is selling her virginity to the highest
bidder on the internet. So far more than 400 men, many of them sickos, have placed bids offering 18-year-old Rosie Reid
up to £10,000 for sex. The drastic action has left Rosie's parents sickened. Her doctor dad has told her she "is selling her
soul". Her nurse mum is outraged. And Rosie is even willing to sleep with a man despite it being abhorrent to her-she is a
LESBIAN. But she would rather prostitute herself than see her studies suffer. She is currently forced to work long hours in
poorly paid part-time jobs to pay her tuition fees. Rosie said: "The way things are going, I'll leave university £15,000 in
debt. That's why I'm taking drastic action." She started her Bachelor of Science degree in social policy at the University of
Bristol three months ago and is already £3,000 in debt. Rosie estimates her three-year course at the university, where
Prime Minister Tony Blair's son Euan is also a student, will cost her £7,500 a year. "I needed to raise cash and I was
thinking about what I could sell," said Rosie, who has never even seen a man naked. "It seemed that my virginity was
something really valuable yet at the same time something I could do without. With £10,000 in the bank I could work less. I
could live comfortably until the end of my course and concentrate on my studies. "People have sex all the time and they
do it free of charge. And I don't know many people who actually stay with the first person they ever sleep with.
Unless I do something like this I'm going to be in financial trouble." "I'm not willing to sacrifice my future for the sake
of a part-time job, so I am faced with two choices-years in debt or prostituting myself on the internet for my education."
Within days of placing the ad, Rosie was bombarded with e-mails from around the world. eBay had nearly 7,000 hits on
her ad over three days, almost ten a second. But after three days the website decided to remove her. Rosie is now setting
up her own website where she will continue to advertise herself. Earlier this month American interior designer Cathy
Cobblerson, 24, offered her virginity for $100,000 (£65,000) on eBay to pay off credit card bills. Rosie added: "I'm not
sexually attracted to men, but if sex is natural to so many people, it can't be that bad. "I've never had a sexual experience
with a man, so I have no idea what it would be like. "Having sex with a woman is very intimate and is all about the mind.
"But I'm not doing this for my own enjoyment...I'm doing this so I can do my
degree without struggling financially."
Animal sex is not illegal in Sweden, and every year between 200 and 300 pets are injured because of sexual assaults.
The estimate was presented by Svenska Veterinärforbundet, the Swedish veterinary organization, and it is now trying to
make the authorities and the public more aware of animals' suffering. The organization claim the problem has increased
during the last couple of years, even if most people are unaware of it. "We have seen an increase since 1999 when child
pornography became illegal," said Johan Beck-Friis. "It appears, in other words, as there are some people who have
replaced children with animals. In both circumstances, it is sex with defenceless individuals." The injuries inflicted on
animals after sexual assaults are of the same character of those children get. Beck-Friis said that the most common
injuries are wounds on the sex organs and blisters.
Animal porn The fact that animal sex is becoming an increasing problem can be indicated by the mere fact that there is an
increasing selection of animal porn at video rentals and there an increasingly number of websites with animal
pornography is surfacing. No one knows for sure how many animals that are abused, but a British study from 2001
indicates that every 20th dog or cat that receives treatment at veterinaries, the injuries are not a result of a direct accident,
but the animal has been inflicted the injury as a result of a sexual assault. According to the Swedish paper Expressen, if
the same estimate can be used in Sweden that will indicate that 200 to 300 dogs and cats every year are injured as a
result of sexual assaults. Not illegal In contrast with most other countries, animal sex is not illegal in Sweden.
It was decriminalized in 1944 in connection with the decriminalization of homosexual sex
World Today Can't get Enough
The world today is un-satiable when it comes to sex, it is everywhere we turn. So it was in the
days of Noah. And we aren’t shock by them anymore. But we should at least be aware that we
are living in the days of Noah as Jesus said in Matthew 24.
Believer don’t try to find a new higher thrill in your sex life. If you are treading on that then pray to
God to show you the beauty in the sanctity of the marriage covenant.
Strange Sex Involved Occult Influence
So, the strange sexual behavior leads us to believe it was sexual activity that involved occult and
demonic influences. Maybe not so far fetched for the days we live in; Consider this article, taken
from the Barna research institute:
DRAWN TO DARKNESS: THE LURE OF THE OCCULT - BY JENNIFER JAMES - CBN NEWS
A 2002 Barna Research study revealed 86 percent of kids watch supernatural-themed movies or television shows on a
regular basis.
CBN.com – Do you believe in magic? Chances are your kids do. Experts agree that the occult is casting a wider spell.
The days of witch hunts are long gone, and witches may, in fact, live in the house right next door to your own. The
following two testimonies may sound like two Christians sharing how they came to Christ. "I was looking for something to
kind of fill my heart. Something was missing in my life and I wanted to find myself," said Maurice. "Having been in my
teens fairly recently, as you probably know it's a very trying time where we are reaching out for truth, and truth doesn't
necessarily come to everybody in the same way," Austin said. But these two teens didn’t decide to follow Jesus. No,
Austin Bowles and Maurice Driver are talking about how they became devoted witches, or Wiccans. Wicca is an occult
religion that is quickly gaining followers, especially among teenagers drawn by the lure of the supernatural. One teen-
aged boy said, "It's something no one else can do. Kind of a fantasy world for everyone." One young woman in her early
20’s said, "A lot of people are searching for a higher kind of life, I guess. You know, being able to do things that normal
people can't do." That comes as little surprise to Kathi Sharpe, a former witch who is now a born-again Christian and the
founder of Ex-Witch Ministries. Sharpe said, "There's an element of being able to empower yourself through magic that
was one of the things that really attracted me." Kathi believes plot elements that include magic and sorcery are what have
propelled Harry Potter to unprecedented fame. Harry Potter is the star of the popular children's books and movies that first
appeared in 1999. About 30 million books and two movies later, the Potter craze is still in full swing. "Harry Potter is a
fiction book, but there are real occult elements in it, and it serves to strike an interest in a lot of kids," Sharpe said. And
while not everyone, including Christians, agrees with her on the negative impact of Harry Potter, what can not be disputed
is the fact that sorcery and witchcraft are some of the hottest draws for young people.
A 2002 Barna Research study revealed 86 percent of kids watch supernatural-themed movies or television shows on a
regular basis. And nearly 66 percent of teens say they have participated in at least one occult-oriented activity. Experts
say that interest in the occult is fed by video games, Internet sites and popular TV shows like "Charmed" and "Angel."
Both programs regularly feature plots that revolve around demons and the occult. And a recent flurry of books about
witchcraft are targeted and designed especially for young readers. The book called Teen Witch: Wicca for a New
Generation offers how-to instructions for curious kids. And it educates them about the beliefs and practice of sorcery. The
book has sold more than 150,000 copies. Austin said, "A lot of these kids are reaching out for something that is going to
bring them God in a way… or the goddess in our terms." Maurice said, "In Christianity, they are always saying ‘read the
Bible,’ because it's like feeding your soul, it's like bread. It's the same with Wicca. The more I read, the more I'm feeding
my soul, the more I meditate, the more I'm feeding my soul." And parents of public school kids may not have a choice
when it comes to their child reading controversial books like Harry Potter. "Harry Potter is required reading material in
many schools now," Sharpe said. The books have been promoted by Scholastic Incorporated, a curriculum provider in
public schools for the last 80 years, and a company that reaches 32 million students a year. And many Americans seem
to agree with the idea of using Harry Potter books in schools. One woman said, "It shouldn't matter what book it is, so long
as you get a child reading. You get them interested in one book, that opens up the door for more books." Another young
woman said, "I think any kind of reading is great. So I think that's definitely a good idea." But Kathi Sharpe disagrees. She
thinks that certain elements of pop-culture, like the Harry Potter products, really do play a role in stirring up interest in
witchcraft among children. And Maurice, as a practicing Wiccan, agrees. "Personally, I think it invokes curiosity, I do think
it attracts them," he said. If you go to large, well-known bookstores, just a few yards away from the Harry Potter display
you will probably find a teen witch kit. One box the CBN News found actually converts into an altar and comes with a
pentagram, a crystal and other tools, along with a how-to book — all designed to help curious kids on their way to casting
spells and officially entering the world of witchcraft. A young teen-aged girl said, "It would be neat to have [the witch kit]. I
mean you get everybody together at a party, ‘Look what I got. Let's try it out.’ It would be pretty cool." One mother said, "I
don't know if I'd buy it because you just said the word witchcraft. I don't know, my son likes magic so, I don't know. If he
wanted it, I'd more than likely buy it for him." Another mom said, "Well, I'm a Christian, and I want my kids to be
Christians. But, I don't know, I don't know anything about this... no, learn spells, no. I wouldn't want my kids doing that."
So why are these types of things such a danger for kids? Kathi Sharpe said, "The danger comes because it's Satan's
great deception. Wicca is really dressed up to look very pretty." Kathi says the reality is that occult religions like Wicca
lead people away from what the Bible says about Jesus... that he is the only way to God. When asked if he thought Jesus
was the only way to God, Maurice said, "The only way to God, no. He's not the only way." Austin said, "I believe it is a
way. I don't believe it is the only way to truth." Austin and Maurice say teens today are looking for something different. But
Kathi believes different is just another way of saying young people want whatever makes them happy for the moment,
without realizing the consequences of turning away from the truth of the Bible. "For example if they want to be gay or they
have a friend who is gay, well, Wicca affirms that and says it's okay to be gay," Sharpe said. "Or if they tend to be pro-
choice and they see that the church is being anti-choice, well Wicca says it's okay to have an abortion." Kathi says the
bottom line is simple: what may seem like innocent fun can be a doorway into a dark world. And parents need to arm their
kids with the truth. "They need to be educating their kids," she said. "The same way parents talk to their kids about
alcohol, talk to them about drugs, talk to them about pre-marital sex, they need to be telling their kids about the occult."
(Genesis 6:3 NKJV) And the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he
is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
Look at the Grace
Look at God’s grace, even as wicked as man was, He still gives time for man to repent. Did he
give 120 years so Noah had time to build the ark, no God could have spoke it into existence if He
chose to. Rather the Lord would give man every opportunity to repent.
Methuselah - Oldest man / God’s Grace
As mentioned in last study:
(Genesis 5:27 NKJV) So all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred and sixty-nine years; and he died.
Methuselah means "his death shall bring", the judgment will come. For after he dies, the flood
would come. It is no coincidence that he is the oldest person ever to live, for we see God's grace
and mercy wishing that none should perish, but that all should seek repentance.
Look in This Room Today
Look in this room today and see God’s grace, desiring that none should perish but shall seek
repentance. Had he come 2 years ago who would have missed it, 5? 15? Just as today, so He
did the same for them.
What are we to do with this grace / Build a Lifeboat / Pillar in the Community
What are we to do with this grace? Noah built an ark, a lifeboat, and he invited the whole world to
come aboard. May this church and our lives be a lifeboat to save people from the judgement to
come.
(Hebrews 11:7 NKJV) By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an
ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is
according to faith.
(2 Peter 2:5 NKJV) and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
The sad statement is that of 7 billion people, only 8 were saved.
We are the pillar and ground of truth in our community, we have the words of life, let us grab and
bring as many in as we possibly can.
(Genesis 6:4 NKJV) There were giants on the earth in those days, and also afterward,
when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men and they bore children to them.
Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
Giants - nephiyl, nef-eel'; or nephil, nef-eel'; a feller, i.e. a bully or tyrant:--giant.
There were giants in the land even after the flood, in the new world. Remember Goliath,
remember they were afraid to enter the Promised Land because of the giants?
(Numbers 13:33 KJV) And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own
sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.
(1 Samuel 17:4 KJV) And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose
height was six cubits and a span. (9 feet)
With their size brought fear, for as Goliath, they had a tremendous advantage in battle.
3.) Evil Imaginations – 6:5-10
(Genesis 6:5 NKJV) Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the
earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Always thinking Evil / Romans 1
The thoughts of the heart were continually evil. This is speaking of the thoughts in the mind, they
were never on the things of God, but of evil and wicked things. Every here means every. Their
minds never considered good, but for ever waking moment, it was thinking evil ungodly things.
Ever meet someone like that today, all they want to talk about is filth, telling this filthy story,
always looking for or talking about the next evil adventure. Their minds are vile, Romans 1 gives
us the deeper description of these types of people: God calls their mind reprobate or debased
depending on your translation:
(Romans 1:21 NKJV) because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became
futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
(Romans 1:22 NKJV) Professing to be wise, they became fools,
(Romans 1:23 NKJV) and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man; and birds
and four-footed animals and creeping things.
(Romans 1:24 NKJV) Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their
bodies among themselves,
(Romans 1:25 NKJV) who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the
Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
(Romans 1:26 NKJV) For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural
use for what is against nature.
(Romans 1:27 NKJV) Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another,
men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
(Romans 1:28 NKJV) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased
mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
(Romans 1:29 NKJV) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;
full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
(Romans 1:30 NKJV) backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
(Romans 1:31 NKJV) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
(Romans 1:32 NKJV) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of
death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
Today We are Flooded / People Minds Continually Filled
We already talked about pornography, but look at television today. Look at the images that come
across the screen and into our minds. The commercials during football games have nothing to do
with the game but the lust of the flesh. The reality shows: Fear Factor loaded with the flesh,
Surreal Life, the Apprentice, Survivor, all these shows douse the mind with all these fleshly
images. A Valentine's Day weekend on Fox with "When Animals Attract," a National Geographic
show about mating rituals, and "Love Hurts," a two-hour "Cops" featuring domestic disputes. One
person in entertainment who would sum it up is Howard Stern, he has the most debased mind
I’ve ever seen. You may say he is only one man, but the point is that he has million of viewers
and listeners.
Today we have been bombarded with so much flesh that we don’t even think anything of it. All
this in just the last 20-30 years. I can remember Dick VanDyke, he and his wife had separate
beds, I can remember Mr and Mrs Brady sharing a bed all prim and proper, but today on network
TV you can see two men sharing a bed. Strange and evil images flooding the minds of all who
watch it.
Gang if you must, throw it out. Protect your kids from these images pouring into their minds.
Imagine today if these evil people could live to 900 years old just how messed up our world would
be.
(Genesis 6:6 NKJV) And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He
was grieved in His heart.
(Genesis 6:7 NKJV) So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the
face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry
that I have made them."
Some of your translations may say:
(Genesis 6:6 KJV) And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
It doesn’t mean that He changed His mind,
(Numbers 23:19 KJV) God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said,
and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
God Takes No Pleasure in Judgment
But that it grieved Him because of their wickedness. God never takes pleasure in judgement, but
being a just and Holy God, He must judge:
(Habakkuk 1:12 NKJV) Are You not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, You
have appointed them for judgment; O Rock, You have marked them for correction.
(Habakkuk 1:13 NKJV) You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on
those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?
He is Holy He must Judge / Imagine Bib Laden 900
God is too pure and holy to allow evil to continue; there comes a point where He says enough,
judgement must come. There was 120 years to repent, the period of grace, but it ended. Today
we live in the age (dispensation) of grace, but it too will end, and the judgement will come.
Imagine this world today if evil people could live to 900 years. Imagine Baltimore city, imagine
Bin Laden, Huessen, Hitler. Just imagine Hollywood. So it was in the days of Noah
(Genesis 6:8 NKJV) But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
(Genesis 6:9 NKJV) This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his
generations. Noah walked with God.
(Genesis 6:10 NKJV) And Noah begot three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
Verse 8 is the first time grace is mentioned in the Bible.
Testimony of Noah
The testimony of Noah, a righteous man. A just man, a perfect man, a man who walked with
God. We will talk more of Noah in future studies, but what we see is a man of faith who
responded to God’s calling:
(Hebrews 11:7 KJV) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to
the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Enoch - Rapture / Noah - Israel
A note, Noah is not a type of the church in the Rapture. Enoch is a type of church. Noah is going
through the judgement but is being preserved, while Enoch was taken completely out of the
judgement, and with God in heaven during the tribulation upon the earth. So the church is Enoch,
for we will walk with God and then be not, for God will take us. Noah on the other hand he is a
type in the Bible of Israel. During the tribulation, Israel will go to the mountains and be preserved
and protected by God, while the tribulation is going on everywhere around them.
4.) The Earth Filled with Violence – 6:11-13
(Genesis 6:11 NKJV) The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with
violence.
(Genesis 6:12 NKJV) So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all
flesh had corrupted their way on the earth.
(Genesis 6:13 NKJV) And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for
the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the
earth.
Most Violent Generation
We live in the most violent generation in the history of mankind. The average child will see
35,000 violent acts on TV by the age of 18. 1.2 million couples used a gun or knife on each other
last year. Woman's rate of crime is growing at a rate 6 times faster than men.
Look at the Signs of the Times
The signs of our times were the same as the times of Noah:
(Matthew 24:37 NKJV) "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
(Matthew 24:38 NKJV) "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
(Matthew 24:39 NKJV) "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son
of Man be.
Genesis Chapter 6:14-22
The Ark Prepared
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Last Study / Recap
We have seen the creation of man, and then the fall of man, and last study we saw the height of
how far man has fallen.
Chapter 6 overview
4 things that were happening in those last days of Noah, and they parallel in our day also:
• Population Explosion – 6:1
• Strange and Extreme Sexual Behavior – 6:2-4
• Evil Imaginations – 6:5-10
• The Earth Filled with Violence – 6:11-13
The remainer of chapter 6 we will study 3 points, 3 things the Lord wants to show us for
application, and praise in our lives.
Outline for 6:14-22
• The Ark for Noah – 6:14-16
• The Ark for You – 6:14-16
• The Passenger List – 6:17-22
Noah End times Believer / So are We
Noah was an End-times believer, a last days believer – before the flood. We too are end-times
believers. Noah’s end-times came with a flood of water, our end times will come with a flood of
fire.
World Polluted & Perverted
The world was polluted, perverted, man had reached the point of no return. God gave them 120
years to repent, but they didn’t. Noah preached, but they mocked and continued in their spiral
downward. God said enough, my grace has ended and my judgement must come. So too will
He say it again, and I believe it will be in our day, for we have seen the fig tree blossom.
The Abuse of Grace
The world and even the church today abuse the grace of God. God is love, God is merciful, all
true. But he is also the God who judges, and a God of wrath. These verses show us His wrath.
(Jeremiah 10:10 KJV) But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth
shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.
(2 Chronicles 36:16 NKJV) But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets,
until the wrath of the LORD arose against His people, till there was no remedy.
(Nahum 1:2 NKJV) God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; The LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take
vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies;
His wrath shall come again upon this earth, and people will have missed the period of grace:
(Revelation 6:16 NKJV) and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the
throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
(Revelation 6:17 NKJV) "For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"
1.) The Ark for Noah – 6:14-16
(Genesis 6:13 NKJV) And God said to Noah, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for
the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the
earth.
(Genesis 6:14 NKJV) "Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and
cover it inside and outside with pitch.
So Noah is to build and ark that will cover and protect him and his family from the wrath and
judgement that is coming upon the earth.
Gopherwood / Incorruptable
Made of gopherwood, which is said to be incorruptible, meaning bugs and worm can not infest it.
Imagine the wood rotting, on a journey that will last a year. Gopherwood in ancient times was
used to make coffins because of its durability.
Pitch / Rockefeller
But this pitch is petroleum based. JD Rockefeller 1st was reading this very verse, remembered
he fire and brimstone at Sodom, and said I know the Bible is true, therefore that means there
must be petroleum in the Mid-East. He was the first to explore the region for oil and become a
multi-billionaire. You see it pays to read your Bible, it will “enrich” you.
(Genesis 6:15 NKJV) "And this is how you shall make it: The length of the ark shall be
three hundred cubits, its width fifty cubits, and its height thirty cubits.
Dimensions / 450-75-45
A cubit was thought to be eighteen inches or the distance from your elbow to the tip of your
finger. Now they had the span which was the length from your thumb to your finger; so, you would
measure out so many span and so many cubits. That was a simple and quick way of
measurement. Three hundred cubits would translate into about four hundred and fifty feet or
about as long as 1 ½ football fields. It was to be fifty cubits wide or seventy five feet wide; the
height, thirty cubits or forty five feet would be three decks in height and the height within each
deck would be about fifteen feet. That is about the size of the Titanic. By the way, the 6 to 1
ration, width to length ratio, is the same ratio we use to make ships today.
Floating Box
Now the ark wasn’t meant to navigate the sea, it was only meant to float, remember it was just a
huge lifeboat. It was literally a floating box.
Capacity / Used by Animals
The ark was 1.4 million cubic feet; that is equivalent to about 522 Boxcars of a train. Now
consider this, there are 3500 species of mammal, 8600 species of birds, and 5500 species of
reptile. That is 17,600 species, which you have to double to 35,200 to have male and female. If
you take the average size of all the species, the average works out to be about the size of a
sheep. I might note there would be no need to take full-grown dinosaurs, elephants, etc. Based
on what they haul today, they estimate it would only have taken 150 boxcars of space up. Even if
you doubled that for conservative reasoning, you still would have 40 percent of your space left to
store food.
(Genesis 6:16 NKJV) "You shall make a window for the ark, and you shall finish it to a
cubit from above; and set the door of the ark in its side. You shall make it with lower,
second, and third decks.
Recap of the Ark
So this ark only had one door, one window, rooms, and three levels. A lifeboat to save mankind,
and the animal kingdom.
2.) The Ark for You – 6:14-16
But the ark also has a great spiritual illustration and application for us today, for our salvation.
The ark is a Biblical type, it was a real event and a real object, but it had spiritual representation
for us.
Shaped like Coffin / Death – where Life Begins
First of all it was shaped like a coffin, it was a barge, not a luxury liner; and it was made out of an
incorruptible source, the gopherwood. The grave is where salvation begins for us, when we die
to ourselves and say Lord I need you, I’m a sinner that needs a Savior. It is when I pick up my
cross, it is when I die that I may live.
(John 12:24 NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone;
but if it dies, it produces much grain.
(John 12:25 NKJV) "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
(Luke 9:23 KJV) And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily,
and follow me.
Pitch – Kopher / At-One-Ment
The ark was cover with pitch, inside and out. The word translated pitch is "kopher." It is the same
word translated later as atonement. What does atonement mean, real simply, just what it sounds
like – at-one-ment. Atonement will make us one with the Father. Seventy times in the Bible it is
used to make atonement, only here is it translated and used for “pitch”. As the blood of the lamb
will make a "Kofu" or covering for the sins, so the ark was to be covered inside and out with this
"Kopher."
One Door
We enter into salvation just as Noah and family entered into the ark, through the door. There was
only one way into the ark, on the door on the side. Jesus says I am the door:
(John 10:9 KJV) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Pierced Side / Blood & Water
The door to the ark was on the side of the ark, where was Jesus pierced, on the side. And out of
His side came what, blood and water, the two fluids that come in child birthing, in bringing new life
into this world:
(John 19:34 NKJV) But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.
God speaking to the nation of Israel, it was blood and water:
(Ezekiel 16:8 NKJV) "When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I
spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you,
and you became Mine," says the Lord GOD.
(Ezekiel 16:9 NKJV) "Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil.
(Ezekiel 16:10 NKJV) "I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine
linen and covered you with silk.
Only Way / A Narrow Way
There was only one door into the ark for salvation from the judgement to come, and there is only
one door, one way for salvation from the judgement of God for our sin:
(John 14:6 NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
Me.
The way is narrow, some complain:
(Matthew 7:13 NKJV) "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and
there are many who go in by it.
(Matthew 7:14 NKJV) "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find
it.
But I praise Him and am so thankful that the way is narrow. It may be narrow, but God made it
ever so simple; one way, not 12, 23, or 40, but just one. It is so simple, even I can’t mess it up,
all I have to do is receive Him. There aren’t 3 doors and I have to pick one, this isn’t Monty Hall,
there won’t be no clunkers behind door number one. There is only one door, one name, Jesus
Christ:
(Acts 4:12 NKJV) "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by
which we must be saved."
Many Rooms / Many Flavors
Although there was only one door, the ark had many rooms. And so it is with Christianity,
salvation is only by one way, but there are many different rooms if you will, the Baptist, the
Pentecostal, the Protestants, the Calvary Chapels – different churches, different flavors, but God
gathering them all in. Some like emotion, others like structure, as long as they come through the
same door it is all right. We need to recognize the different rooms, and appreciate them.
3 Levels
I like this, the ark had three levels. In 1st John we see 3 levels:
(1 John 2:12 NKJV) I write to you, little children, Because your sins are forgiven you for His name's sake.
(1 John 2:13 NKJV) I write to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young
men, Because you have overcome the wicked one. I write to you, little children, Because you have known the Father.
(1 John 2:14 NKJV) I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have
written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the
wicked one.
• Little Children – their sins were forgiven.
• Young Men – they overcome the evil one and could handle the word.
• Fathers – they have know Him from the beginning and they had a deep intimate relationship
with Him.
In the church we have all three of these, people growing and maturing at different levels, but are
all in, all saved. Notice that and appreciate that in the body.
The Window / Amount of Illumination
There was a window; Noah couldn’t control the door, but he could control the window. We will
read that God shut the door, but that Noah would open and close the window. Noah would open
the window to let the light and illumination in. Once we are saved it is up to us on how much light
and illumination we allow into our hearts and minds. You can have all of God you want, but not
one drop more. You might be on board, but notice the window was at the top, in order to see the
light you had to look up, but also the lower the level, the less illumination.
3.) The Passenger List – 6:17-22
(Genesis 6:17 NKJV) "And behold, I Myself am bringing floodwaters on the earth, to
destroy from under heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life; everything that is on the
earth shall die.
(Genesis 6:18 NKJV) "But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall go into the
ark; you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you.
God’s Foreknowledge
120 years, and only eight people, but in grace not one drop of rain would fall until that last person
would make their commitment to Him. In this verse we see God’s foreknowledge; he knew there
would only be 7 others joining Noah, even after 120 years of opportunity, God knew exactly who
would respond.
(Romans 8:28 NKJV) And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the
called according to His purpose.
(Romans 8:29 NKJV) For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He
might be the firstborn among many brethren.
(Romans 8:30 NKJV) Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified;
and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Nothing can Separate Us
Notice these seven were on the ark and heading for a new world. Gang no matter what happens,
we are saved. The rains may come, the boat may rock, the storms may rage, but always
remember we are saved, and nothing can separate us from Our Awesome God.
(Romans 8:31 NKJV) What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
(Romans 8:32 NKJV) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also
freely give us all things?
(Romans 8:33 NKJV) Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
(Romans 8:34 NKJV) Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the
right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
(Romans 8:35 NKJV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
(Romans 8:36 NKJV) As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter."
(Romans 8:37 NKJV) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
(Romans 8:38 NKJV) For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things
present nor things to come,
(Romans 8:39 NKJV) nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Folks we are saved, rejoice, nothing can separate us from the love of the Lord!
(Genesis 6:19 NKJV) "And of every living thing of all flesh you shall bring two of every
sort into the ark, to keep them alive with you; they shall be male and female.
(Genesis 6:20 NKJV) "Of the birds after their kind, of animals after their kind, and of every
creeping thing of the earth after its kind, two of every kind will come to you to keep them
alive.
Lord of All Creation! The animals are subject to Him, as the Lord directed the animals to come to
Noah, not that Noah had to go find them.
(Genesis 6:21 NKJV) "And you shall take for yourself of all food that is eaten, and you
shall gather it to yourself; and it shall be food for you and for them."
(Genesis 6:22 NKJV) Thus Noah did; according to all that God commanded him, so he did.
Noah Did all the Lord Commanded
Noah did all the Lord commanded him to do. We are all descendants of Noah, if he didn’t do all
that the Lord commanded him to do, then we wouldn’t be here. If Noah would have only finished
the frame but didn’t get around to the siding or roof, we wouldn’t be here.
Beloved, whatever God has called you to do, finish it off, don’t let up………..for the sake of
others, you never know who may be counting on you.
Genesis Chapter 7
The Flood
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Chapters 1-6
We have seen the creation of man, and then the fall of man, and chapter 6 we saw the height of
how far man has fallen.
Chapter 6 overview
4 things that were happening in those last days of Noah, and they parallel in our day also:
• Population Explosion – 6:1
• Strange and Extreme Sexual Behavior – 6:2-4
• Evil Imaginations – 6:5-10
• The Earth Filled with Violence – 6:11-13
Recap
God saw that the wickedness of the earth was great; the imaginations of man's heart were
continuously evil. Men were involved in Satanism; unnatural sex; violence; and corruption, and
so God decided to bring an end to that scene of iniquity. God saw Noah, who was a righteous
man, and commanded him to build an ark. The dimensions of the ark, 450 feet long and 75 feet
wide, would equal those of the Titanic. Noah followed the instructions of the Lord: to bring into the
ark the various animals, two of each species, with the exception of those animals that were
considered clean; there were to be seven each of those.
(Genesis 7:1 NKJV) Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your
household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.
Come into the ark
The LORD did not say, "go into the ark," but "come into the ark." It seems as though the Lord was
in the ark, inviting Noah to come in. The Lord is with us and how glorious it is to have Him with us
during the storms of life. He was inviting Noah into that place of protection from the great
holocaust that was to come. God invites us to come on in to the ark (that place of safety or refuge
that He has prepared in Jesus Christ) that we might survive the great flood of judgment that is
going to come against evil.
Come - cover to cover of this Bible He says to us, come!
(Isaiah 1:18 KJV) Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as
white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
(Matthew 11:28 KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(John 7:37 KJV) In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come
unto me, and drink.
Noah was righteous
God saw that Noah was righteous, even as God sees us as righteous. That doesn't mean that we
don't do unrighteous deeds, because we do; we are sinners. We are not righteous in and of
ourselves, but God sees us as righteous and that is what really counts. God sees us as righteous
as we believe and trust in Jesus Christ. This is that righteousness that is imputed to us because
of our faith. This same righteousness was imputed to Noah, because he believed God and
obeyed Him.
"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his
house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." (Heb.11:7).
This doesn't mean that Noah was a perfect man, but, only that he believed God and obeyed Him.
Notice his righteousness was mixed with fear, a reverence that God is Holy and His grace has
limitations. His faith in God was evidenced by his obedience and this is always true. If you say
that you have faith in God but don't obey Him, then your words of faith are discounted. Noah was
living in the midst of a corrupt generation, but the Lord saw him as "righteous."
Man of the House
Notice “Man of the House”, you and your whole family. Be a godly leader and your house will
follow. It won’t just happen by cruising along, it takes radical faith for your whole family to follow.
You have to build an ark while the rest of the world is going about their daily business.
(Genesis 7:2 NKJV) "You shall take with you seven each of every clean animal, a male and
his female; two each of animals that are unclean, a male and his female;
(Genesis 7:3 NKJV) "also seven each of birds of the air, male and female, to keep the
species alive on the face of all the earth.
Had to have 7 of each to be used for sacrifices and probably a barbeque.
(Genesis 7:4 NKJV) "For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty
days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I
have made."
(Genesis 7:5 NKJV) And Noah did according to all that the LORD commanded him.
(Genesis 7:6 NKJV) Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters were on the
earth.
(Genesis 7:7 NKJV) So Noah, with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives, went into the
ark because of the waters of the flood.
(Genesis 7:8 NKJV) Of clean animals, of animals that are unclean, of birds, and of
everything that creeps on the earth,
(Genesis 7:9 NKJV) two by two they went into the ark to Noah, male and female, as God
had commanded Noah.
(Genesis 7:10 NKJV) And it came to pass after seven days that the waters of the flood
were on the earth.
(Genesis 7:11 NKJV) In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the
seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken
up, and the windows of heaven were opened.
(Genesis 7:12 NKJV) And the rain was on the earth forty days and forty nights.
It appears it took 7 days for all the animals to come and board, and then Noah and family were
the last on.
40 Days
This number 40 we see over and over in the Scriptures. The number 40 is related to judgment
and trials. There were 40 days of rain on the earth to judge a sinful world. The nation Israel
wandered in the wilderness for 40 days for not mixing the word with faith. And Jesus was tested
in the desert for 40 days.
Fountains of the Deep / The Rain / Rivers
God describes how the flood came about and take note that it wasn't caused by just the rain.
Before the flood came there were rivers that went forth from the Garden of Eden and yet, prior to
the flood, there was no rain. How can you have rivers if there is no rain? Evidently there were
tremendous underground reservoirs of water, which the scripture calls, "fountains of the
deep.(v11)" There could have been a whole series of underground caverns and it could be that
the heat of the earth would even, if necessary, distill the waters of the sea as they would flow into
these caverns. God could have had a whole vast irrigation system under the surface of the earth
that sprung forth and flowed as rivers.
Water Canopy / South Pole / Mammoths
These fountains of the deep were broken up as well as that canopy of water “windows of heaven”
that God had suspended in space in Genesis One.
"And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters, And God
made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the
firmament; and it was so. (Gen.1:6-7).
This canopy (like a greenhouse) encircled the whole earth. It had protected the earth from the
cosmic rays and had caused a "green garden" effect over all the earth. Without the poles being
iced, with this water suspended in the atmosphere; there would not have been any violent storms
or winds. There would have been only a slow movement of air and with the humidity and the
warmth you would have had an ideal "plant" environment. Great charcoal beds have been
discovered under the ice at the South Pole Region, which means there had to be vast forests
there at one time. Mammoths, with vegetation in their digestive tracts, have been found in Siberia,
which indicates a tropical paradise at one time. The emptying of the canopy of water seems to be
the only answer to the forty days and nights of rain. Even if you had clouds, full of water, the most
it would last would be two weeks; but, to rain forty days and the deluge to continue on a world-
wide basis means there was that emptying of that vast canopy of water that God had suspended
in space.
Cataclysmic Events
I believe, and many others do also, that it wasn’t just water falling and coming up, but much more.
The phrase “windows of heaven opening” also means fire and brimstone coming down (as it did
when God judged Sodom and Gomorrah). And the “great deep breaking open” also refers to
breaking of the earth’s crust, and the molten lava that the earth crusts slides on broke open, and
there were volcanoes erupting due to the earths crust rupturing. The fossil evidence supports this
because we see fossils instantly sealed by mud in perfect form, thus the hot lava mixed with the
mud, cooled by the water would make the idea encapsulation of these fossils.
Polar Shift
There is a great possibility of a dramatic polar axis shift at this time. It is possible that prior to the
flood, there were no large mountain regions such as we have today. We don't know anything of
the geology of the earth prior to the flood; they could have had rolling hills. It was indicated in the
scripture, that the land mass was all together and that the seas were all together. There was just
the one land mass and the one ocean of water. It could be that there were tremendous
cataclysmic catastrophes that took place at the time of the flood, besides the breaking up of the
deep and the emptying of the canopy of water that had been suspended in the atmosphere. The
earth could have been moved slightly out of its orbit from around the sun at this time. There are
indications that before the flood there was only a 360 day year. We know that after the flood there
were 365 and one quarter days to a year. There are also possibilities that it was at this point that
the earth became tilted on its axis. That tilt of twenty-three and one third degrees which gives us
the seasons did not take place until the time of the flood. The combined polar axis shift, the tilt of
the earth and the possible changing of its orbit could have been produced by the close paths of a
huge asteroid upsetting the whole balance of the system, or huge meteors hitting the earth. In
Arizona you can visit the meteor crater that is 1-mile wide, and 1-mile deep. NASA uses it to train
their astronauts. A shift in the axis would cause the weather patterns we live with today. .
Upthrusts / Canyons
What we do know is that God emptied the canopy, above the earth, of that shield or water blanket
and opened up the great fountains of the deep. As the waters began to cover the earth and the
pressure of the water began to come over the land mass; the weight of the water, probably, broke
through the earth's crust, in many areas, causing it to collapse. At this time great canyons were
formed and the water, of course, would go into the canyons and through the downward pressure
there might have come the upthrust of a coastal range of mountains such as, the high Sierras in
California. There could have been tremendous geological upheavals as a result of the water
changing its bed. There is evidence, all around the earth, such as fossils of sea life found in the
Himalayas and this all could have been happening during this period of a year's time. Actually
there were forty days when the rain was descending, but the activity continued long after the rain
had descended. I believe the universal flood is a far more plausible explanation of the geological
column than is the evolutionary hypothesis.
The earth is going through major upheavals at this time, greater than just water flooding the earth
(Genesis 7:13 NKJV) On the very same day Noah and Noah's sons, Shem, Ham, and
Japheth, and Noah's wife and the three wives of his sons with them, entered the ark;
(Genesis 7:14 NKJV) they and every beast after its kind, all cattle after their kind, every
creeping thing that creeps on the earth after its kind, and every bird after its kind, every
bird of every sort.
(Genesis 7:15 NKJV) And they went into the ark to Noah, two by two, of all flesh in which
is the breath of life.
Hibernation
There were a lot of problems, sanitary and otherwise, within the ark with all the animals that were
there. It is quite possible (as we are dealing with a God who can do anything) and we do know
that bears have the capacity of hibernating; it could be that God gave that same capacity to these
animals for this special occasion. Maybe they all went into a hibernation process like the bear,
sleeping the time away. It could be that the ark wasn't nearly as noisy as we would have
imagined it to be. There was plenty of room to store food for them, and of course getting them
water was not a problem - just lower the bucket down with a rope.
(Genesis 7:16 NKJV) So those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God
had commanded him; and the LORD shut him in.
Noah Spared Shutting the Door
Notice this account doesn't give details of those left behind; it only focuses on those who received
and accepted the offer. God takes no pleasure in judging the wicked.
The Lord didn't put it on Noah's conscience to be the one that closed the door. The Lord shut the
door! So as the people pounded on the door to get in, it was out of Noah's hand. Imagine if it
was you, and the pounding began and it was a loved one, a neighbor, the horror of their screams.
It must have been a hard thing on Noah, for a "preacher of righteousness" gives a piece of
himself away when he share the gospel with people. I'm sure Noah had the heart of the Father,
and he longed that the people would repent, and it broke his heart when they rejected the
message of salvation.
Paul the Apostle would say he is innocent of their blood, but wishes he could take their curse.
(Acts 20:25 NKJV) "And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will
see my face no more.
(Acts 20:26 NKJV) "Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all men.
(Acts 20:27 NKJV) "For I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.
One Way In / Not to Keep from Getting Out / The Door Seals Our Salvation
The Lord shut them in, the Lord shut the door. This door of salvation speaks of Jesus Christ,
John 6 and John 14:6; there is only one-way in.
(John 10:9 KJV) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
(John 14:6 KJV) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
The beautiful part is that the Lord shut them in, He sealed them in. Not so that they might not get
out, but that what was outside might not get in, in and consume them. They were safe and
secure in the ark.
So too are we:
(John 10:28 KJV) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of
my hand.
(Ephesians 1:12 NKJV) that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
(Ephesians 1:13 NKJV) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom
also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
(Ephesians 1:14 NKJV) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the
praise of His glory.
I'm Secure /
For myself I know that I am secure in my salvation, I know that I am going nowhere, for where
would I go. As Peter said when Jesus asked will you leave me also, and Peter said Lord where
would we go?
(John 6:67 NKJV) Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
(John 6:68 NKJV) But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
(John 6:69 NKJV) "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
It is no coincidence that that story is in the chapter and context of Jesus being the door. Now
could Noah and the others jumped ship, absolutely, but where would they go? The ark was their
salvation, there was no world to go back to.
Acts 27 Picture of Salvation
We see another beautiful picture of this in Acts 27. Paul is on his way to Rome to stand trial, God
tells him that he will be there. So they set sail at a bad time of the year, Paul tells the captain not
a good idea, but they blow him off just the same. So while at sea a storm hits them, lasting 14
days, but the Lord speaks to Paul:
(Acts 27:22 NKJV) "And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
All will be saved, no life will be lost, all will make it to safely the Lord says, if, and only if, they all
stay on the boat. If they try to bail, they will die, if they stay on the boat, they will survive:
(Acts 27:30 NKJV) And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the
sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,
(Acts 27:31 NKJV) Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."
(Acts 27:32 NKJV) Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.
The Sure Way
Again, I can only tell you the sure way of salvation, stay in Christ, cling to Him and His Word. If
you go overboard, if you row away in a dingy, try to make it to shore your own way, I can not
guarantee that you will make it. Yes we all blow it, but repent, stay onboard, and you will make it.
(Genesis 7:17 NKJV) Now the flood was on the earth forty days. The waters increased and
lifted up the ark, and it rose high above the earth.
(Genesis 7:18 NKJV) The waters prevailed and greatly increased on the earth, and the ark
moved about on the surface of the waters.
(Genesis 7:19 NKJV) And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high
hills under the whole heaven were covered.
(Genesis 7:20 NKJV) The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were
covered.
(Genesis 7:21 NKJV) And all flesh died that moved on the earth: birds and cattle and
beasts and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, and every man.
(Genesis 7:22 NKJV) All in whose nostrils was the breath of the spirit of life, all that was
on the dry land, died.
(Genesis 7:23 NKJV) So He destroyed all living things which were on the face of the
ground: both man and cattle, creeping thing and bird of the air. They were destroyed from
the earth. Only Noah and those who were with him in the ark remained alive.
Global Flood
15 cubits is around 22 feet. So that the highest peak in the world, whatever that was at the time,
and it covered it by 22 feet.
Some try to argue that this was just a local flood, and the whole world wasn't flooded, if that is
true then explain the following:
• Why didn't God just tell Naoh to move to high ground, he had 120 years to get there?
• How do you explain the fossils up in the Himalayan Mountains with lower level forms of
animals in the fossils?
• Then how do explain that God broke His covenant promise never to flood the earth again,
because monthly we see floods in this world.
It was a universal, global flood, and the fossil record backs it up. The global flood explains the
fossil record way better than the theory of evolution.
(Genesis 7:24 NKJV) And the waters prevailed on the earth one hundred and fifty days.
Water levels
The water levels off at 150 days, they reached their peak, and started to recede. The earth is in
upheaval. The earth is convulsing and reacting to this massive amount of water pressure upon it,
canyons are being made, earth crusts are shifting, and each time it causes a ripple effect through
the whole planet, tidal waves rippling through the earth. Waves would be caused and Noah
would have to ride it out until this 150 day mark when everything settled down. So it wasn't just
40 days and it was over, it was another 110 days after that. And when the waters receded to
where Noah would touch dry land again, it would be a total of 371 days.
Noah Heard God
So it was 150 days ago God said to Noah come into the ark. Then we have no record of God
speaking to Noah again up to this point. The rain starts to fall, then enough to cover the ground,
then enough to raise the boat, now Noah floats; day after day, week after week, the flood around
him, possibly bodies floating past him of animals and people, and yet he still hears nothing from
God. He will not hear from god again for a total of 371 days. Noah had heard the word, and
specific instructions on what to do, and then he heard nothing.
Our Silence
That can be us, we have heard Him speak, we stepped out and started moving, and then silence
comes. Our world may start tossing, going up and down, and we want to hear Him speak like He
did before He told us to do something, but He doesn't. Hear this gang, God will not continually
speak to you over and over on something He has already told you to do. He is not a chatterbox.
He gives us direction, and then expects us to exercise faith to carry it out. Look at Romans 5:1:
(Romans 5:1 NKJV) Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
(Romans 5:2 NKJV) through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of
the glory of God.
(Romans 5:3 NKJV) And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
(Romans 5:4 NKJV) and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
(Romans 5:5 NKJV) Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the
Holy Spirit who was given to us.
He is working
God is working in you in ways you do not know, He is working deep things within you. So often
we step out for Him and then are hit with massive attacks and trials. We say where are you? he
is there, He is working. Trials and tribulation will cause us to grow in patience, and that patience
will produce "godly character" in us. This character produces hope; what kind of hope? Trust.
Our experiences of Him being faithful produces a confidence in us that we know He will do all that
he says he will. Faith is not faith if you know what is happening, or what is going to happen. He
shows Himself strong even when we can't hear Him, and we have confidence in the next trial ot
tribulation that even though we can't hear Him, He is there and He is working.
Genesis Chapter 8
The Ark Rests
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Chapters 1-6
We have seen the creation of man, and then the fall of man, and chapter 6 we saw the height of
how far man has fallen.
Chapter 6 overview
4 things that were happening in those last days of Noah, and they parallel in our day also:
• Population Explosion – 6:1
• Strange and Extreme Sexual Behavior – 6:2-4
• Evil Imaginations – 6:5-10
• The Earth Filled with Violence – 6:11-13
Recap
God saw that the wickedness of the earth was great; the imaginations of man's heart were
continuously evil. Men were involved in Satanism; unnatural sex; violence; and corruption, and
so God decided to bring an end to that scene of iniquity. God saw Noah, who was a righteous
man, and commanded him to build an ark. The dimensions of the ark, 450 feet long and 75 feet
wide, would equal those of the Titanic. Noah followed the instructions of the Lord: to bring into the
ark the various animals, two of each species, with the exception of those animals that were
considered clean; there were to be seven each of those.
(Genesis 8:1 NKJV) Then God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the
animals that were with him in the ark. And God made a wind to pass over the earth, and
the waters subsided.
Satellite Photo
Could you imagine a satellite photo of the earth at this time? The photo would be all blue except
on a zoom in, one little brown dot in all that blue. It may have taken some searching for a satellite
to find Noah and family, but God knew where he was at all times. God never took His eyes from
upon him. This ark was a picture of salvation, and God says nothing can pluck you out of my
hand:
(John 10:28 KJV) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of
my hand.
Ever feel all-alone in this world, Noah did, because the eight of them were, but know this story
God hasn’t forgotten, and He knows exactly where you are.
Limited Vocabulary
"And God remembered Noah,..." which doesn't mean that God forgot Noah and suddenly
remembered He had a guy down on the earth floating around on the water, but that direct activity
with God began again. One of the problems that we have with God is that we don't have divine
terms with which to describe Him. There are probably terms that we will discover when we get to
heaven, but we wouldn't even understand them now; because, they are terms that define the
aspects of an infinite God. We are limited to our own vocabulary and therefore, we use human
terms in talking about God
To Think Upon
This word remembered also means to “think upon”, I think that is the better translation. Psalm
139 tells us of God thinking upon us, and we know that He does not change (Malachi 3:6),
therefore He never stopped thinking about Noah but it was now time to start direct activity with
Noah again:
(Malachi 3:6 NKJV) "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
(Psalms 139:1 NKJV) O LORD, You have searched me and known me.
(Psalms 139:2 NKJV) You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
(Psalms 139:3 NKJV) You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
(Psalms 139:4 NKJV) For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.
(Psalms 139:5 NKJV) You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
(Psalms 139:6 NKJV) Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.
(Psalms 139:7 NKJV) Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
(Psalms 139:8 NKJV) If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
(Psalms 139:9 NKJV) If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
(Psalms 139:10 NKJV) Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
(Psalms 139:11 NKJV) If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me;
(Psalms 139:12 NKJV) Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and
the light are both alike to You.
(Psalms 139:13 NKJV) For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
(Psalms 139:14 NKJV) I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my
soul knows very well.
(Psalms 139:15 NKJV) My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the
lowest parts of the earth.
(Psalms 139:16 NKJV) Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The
days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
(Psalms 139:17 NKJV) How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
(Psalms 139:18 NKJV) If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am
still with You.
God knows where you are at, and what is going on in your life, and He will speak and direct when
He sees it best for your life.
(Genesis 8:2 NKJV) The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were also
stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained.
(Genesis 8:3 NKJV) And the waters receded continually from the earth. At the end of the
hundred and fifty days the waters decreased.
270 Accounts of the Flood / Willfully Ignorant
Interesting note, there is an account of a global flood in every major civilizations writings. Indians,
nomads, cave dwellers, early civilizations. Some 270 early civilizations tell the story of a flood
that wiped out man and there forefathers passed the story of the flood down the line. These 270
accounts give credible evidence that a flood came upon the whole world. They confirm this story
here in Genesis, just as the fossil evidence does, but people refuse to believe the evidence or
else they would become accountable to what it all means, there is a God that we can know
exactly who he is, and what He requires of us.
(2 Peter 3:3 KJV) Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
(2 Peter 3:4 KJV) And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as
they were from the beginning of the creation.
(2 Peter 3:5 KJV) For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth
standing out of the water and in the water:
(2 Peter 3:6 KJV) Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
(2 Peter 3:7 KJV) But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire
against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
(Genesis 8:4 NKJV) Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the
month, on the mountains of Ararat.
Proof to Believe
These men, with their scientific equipment and gear, hoping to find the ark and to bring back the
actual evidence that the ark still exists; but, as yet, there is still no solid confirmation that the ark
does exist, encased in ice, about the fifteen thousand foot level of Mt. Ararat. If they do discover
the ark, it would be the greatest archaeological find in the world; but, would it make you more of a
believer in God? Would that cement your faith? Wow! I guess so. No. Jesus told the story of the
rich man and Lazarus and the rich man wanted Father Abraham to send someone back to earth
to testify to his brothers so that they wouldn't come to Hell.).
(Luke 16:27 NKJV) "Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house,
(Luke 16:28 NKJV) 'for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'
(Luke 16:29 NKJV) "Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'
(Luke 16:30 NKJV) "And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'
(Luke 16:31 NKJV) "But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded
though one rise from the dead.'"
Your faith in God is a matter of choice and there is sufficient evidence already to cause us to
believe in Him.
Rest in The Scriptures
We read of "rest" throughout the Scriptures.
• God rested after Creation,
• The Ark Rested after God safely delivers Noah and family through the flood,
• Jesus rested when he said "It is Finished",
• the book of Hebrews is about Jesus Christ Our High Priest is seated at the Right hand of the
Father, His works are finished.
• Another interesting note is that Noah's name means "rest."
The New Beginning
When the ark rested, it was a new beginning for the world. The earth had ceased its upheaval,
the judgement was over and after all these days of being on a rocking boat, the boat was at rest,
on firm ground, it was a new beginning for the earth.
Peter says the Old World perished; what comes from here is a New beginning, a New Life.
(2 Peter 3:5 NKJV) For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing
out of water and in the water,
(2 Peter 3:6 NKJV) by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.
(2 Peter 3:7 NKJV) But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until
the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
The Date – God Records it
It is interesting when the New World comes, on the 17th day of the 7th month. No word in the
scripture is without meaning. The ark rested on the 17th day of the 7th month. God wanted this
day marked and recorded for the history of the world so we wouldn't miss the importance of this
date
Passover – A New Calendar
Just as the end of the flood was the new beginning for the world, there was another day, so new,
and so important to the nation Israel and us today, that God said throw away your old calendar
and start a new one. We read about it in Exodus chapter 12:
(Exodus 12:1 NKJV) Now the LORD spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
(Exodus 12:2 NKJV) "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you.
(Exodus 12:3 NKJV) "Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take
for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household.
(Exodus 12:4 NKJV) 'And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it
according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb.
(Exodus 12:5 NKJV) 'Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from
the goats.
(Exodus 12:6 NKJV) 'Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the
congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.
(Exodus 12:7 NKJV) 'And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the
houses where they eat it.
Overview of Passover
It was the first Passover, Moses was told to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt, but first the
night before they were to take the blood of the lamb and cover the doorpost of the home, and
when God say the blood He would pass over the house, but if there was no blood over the door,
then God would take the first born, in death. The Egyptians awoke to the horror of death, and
begged Moses and the children of Israel to leave the land. That was the first Passover, and it
was so the "center" of the Jewish faith, God said start a new calendar based on it, and observe
and honor it every year on the exact same day.
Same Month
Chuck Missler and Chuck Smith have done the research and they say through the ancient
writings of the Jews, that this 7th month spoken of here in Genesis 8 can be traced what it
changed to, when God said in Exodus 12, make this month the first month. Guess what, it was
the 7th month of Genesis 8. So Genesis 8 and Exodus 12 are the exact same months, and
obviously, the days of the month are the exact same day also.
Prophetic Picture / Our Faith Linked to Resurrection
Now, for the Passover was the prophetic picture of the perfect sacrificial lamb that was to come,
Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). The
Passover was on the 14th day of the month. Jesus was our Passover lamb, and He was offered
on the 14th day of the first month, just as they were killing lambs for the Passover that year, Jesus
was being crucified on the cross at the same time. But the grave couldn't hold Him, and He rose
again, on the 3rd day.
(John 11:25 NKJV) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he
shall live.
Our faith is linked entirely on the resurrection.
(1 Corinthians 15:3 NKJV) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures,
(1 Corinthians 15:4 NKJV) and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
17th of the Month / New Beginning – New World
The 3rd day being the 17th of the month…………….guess what, the exact same day that the ark
rested on the mountain. The ark resting on the 17th was a picture in advance of salvation that
would bring man through the judgment God, and bringing him into rest. It represents a new
beginning in a new world for all those who will believe.
Inspired Book
Now you tell me this book wasn't inspired, that it was some accident. God foreordained the
resting of the ark. 66 books by 40 different over thousands of years, all weaving together
perfectly, and all pointing to one person - Jesus Christ.
(Genesis 8:5 NKJV) And the waters decreased continually until the tenth month. In the
tenth month, on the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains were seen.
(Genesis 8:6 NKJV) So it came to pass, at the end of forty days, that Noah opened the
window of the ark which he had made.
Shocking View
Imagine the sight to Noah. He got on the boat and the last he saw was a tropical paradise, lush
and green. A warm balmy climate due to the greenhouse effect caused by the water canopy. It
was paradise, and now he sees floating carcasses, the waters littered with debris. It would be
like us emerging from a fall-out shelter after a nuclear detonation, it would be utterly shocking.
But, God remembered Noah, God is with Noah, and God is starting something new.
(Genesis 8:7 NKJV) Then he sent out a raven, which kept going to and fro until the waters
had dried up from the earth.
Raven Picture of the World
The raven is a picture of the world, the flesh. A raven feeds off flesh. Imagine all the dead
floating carcasses scattered through the world. The raven was categorized as an unclean bird, it
never came back because it was filling itself full of flesh.
Now Noah sends out a dove, which are clean birds.
(Genesis 8:8 NKJV) He also sent out from himself a dove, to see if the waters had receded
from the face of the ground.
(Genesis 8:9 NKJV) But the dove found no resting place for the sole of her foot, and she
returned into the ark to him, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth. So he put
out his hand and took her, and drew her into the ark to himself.
(Genesis 8:10 NKJV) And he waited yet another seven days, and again he sent the dove
out from the ark.
(Genesis 8:11 NKJV) Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly
plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the waters had receded from the
earth.
(Genesis 8:12 NKJV) So he waited yet another seven days and sent out the dove, which
did not return again to him anymore.
Raven has a Feast / Old nature -- The Dove found No Satisfaction
The raven went out into a judged world and had a feast on dead carcasses. The raven is a
picture of our old nature. The old nature loves the things of the world and feasts off of them. The
dove represents the new nature of man. The dove went out into a judged world but found no rest,
no satisfaction, and she returned to the ark. The raven never came back because it thought it
had hit jackpot, but the dove found nothing appealing in the old judged world.
Green Leaf – God Regenerating the Earth
But when the floodwaters receded, and the new earth was revealed, the dove came back with
green vegetation, a freshly plucked olive leaf, and proof that God was regenerating the world.
Spirit like a Dove / 2 Choices
We see in Matthew that the spirit descended on Jesus like a dove. So we see here the Spirit of
God is moving again across the earth. We have two choices; we can live a life after the Spirit, or
after the flesh. The passage here makes the illustration so obvious to us. Living like the raven
our life is feeding off of dead decaying things, or living like the dove we live off the things that
show life, color, hope. It is true isn’t it, once we are saved we go into the same world, but there is
nothing there that brings us satisfication.
(Genesis 8:13 NKJV) And it came to pass in the six hundred and first year, in the first
month, the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from the earth; and Noah
removed the covering of the ark and looked, and indeed the surface of the ground was dry.
(Genesis 8:14 NKJV) And in the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month,
the earth was dried.
(Genesis 8:15 NKJV) Then God spoke to Noah, saying,
(Genesis 8:16 NKJV) "Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons'
wives with you.
Noah Waits
After all this time, 371 days on this ark, Noah sees dry ground but he doesn’t move, He waits for
one thing, and one thing only, He waits to hear the voice of the Father again. What a man of
faith. And the Lord speaks, and He says “go”
First Come / then Go
First the Lord said to Noah, “come”, and now He says go. God always says come first, and then
after we come to Him, he sends us out. Go into the New World. For once you come to the Lord,
the world around you is new, yes it is the same world, but it is all-new to you. You don’t look at it
the same anymore, and God says exactly the thing He said to Noah, now go.
(Matthew 28:18 NKJV) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on
earth.
(Matthew 28:19 NKJV) "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
(Matthew 28:20 NKJV) "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age." Amen.
You come into God’s presence and then you go out in power. You can’t go out in power until
you’ve come into His presence.
(Genesis 8:17 NKJV) "Bring out with you every living thing of all flesh that is with you:
birds and cattle and every creeping thing that creeps on the earth, so that they may
abound on the earth, and be fruitful and multiply on the earth."
(Genesis 8:18 NKJV) So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives
with him.
(Genesis 8:19 NKJV) Every animal, every creeping thing, every bird, and whatever creeps
on the earth, according to their families, went out of the ark.
God Lost not a One
This may seem like redundant wording, but God is making a point to us; He is saying just as I
said I would, I preserved everything that came into the ark, I lost none, every animal, every
creeping thing, every bird, every person, came into the ark, a came through the storm.
God makes the point to us, stay on the boat, and you will be delivered through every storm, you
will be preserved through the next judgment to come.
(John 10:28 KJV) And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of
my hand.
(Genesis 8:20 NKJV) Then Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal
and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
First Thing Noah Did
This all happened long before the Mosaic law (Levitical Law); before God instituted or codified the
various types of sacrifices; before God had ever codified the clean and unclean animals. Yet,
here was something that preexisted the Mosaic Law in that Noah offered the sacrifice of
consecration. Just as Abel learned from Adam, so did the others would call upon the name of the
Lord learn the lamb sacrifice.
The first thing that Noah did was to build an altar to the Lord and offer a sacrifice. After 371 days
on the ark, cooped up with the stench and confinement, what does he do, he builds an altar to the
Lord. He doesn’t go for a walk, take a bath, start to build a house; the first thing he does is build
and altar, and offer sacrifices to the Lord.
How often after a long trial, a long day, we look for relaxation, kick back and watch some TV, take
some time off on Sunday and sleep in, Go to movies. Noah builds an altar and worships the Lord
for bringing him through the trial.
Limited Resources / Worship Takes Priority
Today people would say to Noah, you can’t be sacrificing these animals, we are on a limited
budget, the resources are low, we have to make these resources go a long way. Please learn
from Noah, worship always takes priority. We remember the story when the woman came to
Jesus and poured 300 denari worth of perfume upon Him in an act of worship. But one of the
disciples, we know as Judas, says that could have been sold and given to the poor, all the while
he was skimming off the bag for selfish reasons. Nothing ever spent on Jesus is a waste if it is
given in the adoration of worship.
(Mark 14:3 NKJV) And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having
an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head.
(Mark 14:4 NKJV) But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil
wasted?
(Mark 14:5 NKJV) "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they
criticized her sharply.
Jesus Gives the Order
Worship first, and then service. Jesus said it to the devil, in that order, worship the Lord, and then
serve Him:
(Matthew 4:9 NKJV) And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."
(Matthew 4:10 NKJV) Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your
God, and Him only you shall serve.'"
This is the order God wants for us. We are to worship Him first and then serve Him. You may
not do missions, you may not get your music released on the Christian radio, you may never
preach in a stadium, but everyone of can do what blesses God the most, the highest ministry, the
ministry of worshipping Him
Noah models it for us, it is the highest most precious ministry unto the Lord, and we are able to
enter into this ministry. Noah gets off the ark and builds an altar.
(Genesis 8:21 NKJV) And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His
heart, "I will never again curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of
man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have
done.
The Sweet Aroma / Fallen / Chp 9
Even though man is fallen and depraved, but he who worships the Lord blesses him. You may
feel like you constantly blow it, but worship the Lord on the way today, tonight, tomorrow and He
says ahh what a sweet smell, what a blessing you are to me. Unfortunately, chapter 9 our last
account of this faithful and righteous man Noah, we see him in a bad light, surely not the last
thing you want to be remembered as. But the story of Noah’s drunkardness proves out this
verse, God’s grace, and His forgiveness, and how even as sinful man God still finds our worship
sweet.
Noah, having descended from Adam, had a sinful nature. God recognizes and acknowledges
now the sinful nature of man. Even though man does have the sinful nature, God is going to
make a way of redemption for sinful man. God recognizes that man has this tendency towards
evil, yet declares that He will never again destroy every living thing. There is an indication, in
scripture, that during the Judgment of God that only two-thirds of the earth's population will be
destroyed and one-third will live. So, it won't be a total extermination as it was in Noah's day.
There will be that possibility that a person could survive the Great Tribulation Period, although it's
not a possibility that I would want to gamble on.
(Genesis 8:22 NKJV) "While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat,
Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease."
What an impact Noah’s sacrifice made that God promises to never flood the world again. Who
knows what your sacrifice will do.
It is quite possible that they didn't have winter and summer prior to the flood, but just a uniform
temperature around the earth annually. A beautiful, tropical climate everywhere all year long. The
earth is now tilted which gives us summer and winter and also causes the polar ice caps. The
polar ice caps account for the winds, storms, and the violent air currents which make much of the
earth uninhabitable. The vast areas of the Arctic Circle are for the most part uninhabitable by
man. These began to exist only after the flood. This is one of those subtle indications of more
than just the fountains of the deep being broken up and more than just the emptying of the
canopy of water. There were probably other great catastrophes that were associated with this
time of the flood of Noah creating the elongated year of 365 days and creating the various
seasons of winter and summer, cold and heat, etc.
Genesis Chapter 9
The Noahic Covenant
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Chapters 1-8
We have seen the creation of man, and then the fall of man, and chapter 6 we saw the height of
how far man has fallen.
Chapter 6 overview
4 things that were happening in those last days of Noah, and they parallel in our day also:
• Population Explosion – 6:1
• Strange and Extreme Sexual Behavior – 6:2-4
• Evil Imaginations – 6:5-10
• The Earth Filled with Violence – 6:11-13
Recap
God saw that the wickedness of the earth was great; the imaginations of man's heart were
continuously evil. Men were involved in Satanism; unnatural sex; violence; and corruption, and
so God decided to bring an end to that scene of iniquity. God saw Noah, who was a righteous
man, and commanded him to build an ark. The dimensions of the ark, 450 feet long and 75 feet
wide, would equal those of the Titanic. Noah followed the instructions of the Lord: to bring into the
ark the various animals, two of each species, with the exception of those animals that were
considered clean; there were to be seven each of those. The ark finally rested on the 17th day of
the 7th month, and then finally after 371 days on the ark, the Lord spoke to Noah again, and said
“go”, and Noah did, and the first thing Noah does is builds and altar and worships the Lord.
(Genesis 9:1 NKJV) So God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them: "Be fruitful and
multiply, and fill the earth.
Beautiful start
A beautiful start to chapter 9, the flood is over, Noah makes an offering unto the Lord (end
Chapter 8), and here we begin with…………So God blessed Noah and his sons. The first thing
Noah did when he got off the ark, after 371 days, is that he builds an altar and worships the Lord.
Noah didn't start to build a house, he didn't go look for fresh veggies or Ben and Jerry’s, he didn't
call his insurance agent checking his flood insurance, but he builds and altar and worships the
Lord. Beloved, take Noah's example, do you want to be blessed, enter into the Holy of Holies
(see Hebrews 9 study), and sit in His presence and worship Him, fellowship with Him, love on
Him, and "So too will you be blessed", you and all your family.
The Noahic Covenant
In this study we will see God making a "Covenant" with Noah. It is known as the Noahic
Covenant in Bible doctrine and theology. Understanding Covenants are important and helpful in
our understanding of the Bible and God's dealing with man.
Definition of Covenant
A Covenant is something we read about throughout the Scriptures, God making a Covenant with
man. What is a Covenant? A covenant is "a sovereign proclamation of God, from the lips of
God, that puts Him in a relationship of responsibility with a man, a family, a nation, and/or the
world. It is a proclamation of God saying this is what I am going to do.
Conditional / Perpetual
Sometimes these covenants are conditional; I will do this, if/when you do what I tell you to. Some
covenants are God saying I am going to do this regardless of what you do. Some covenants are
perpetual (Forever), others expire when a New Covenant comes into effect.
There are 8 specific Covenants we see in the Scriptures:
Edenic Covenant: (Genesis 2:16-17). God declares to Adam and Eve, all of this is for you to
enjoy, but if you eat of the tree of Knowledge and Evil, you shall surely die. This one is perpetual
for we see man dying everyday as the result of the world being plunged into sin.
Adamic Covenant: (Genesis 3:14-19). Here is the result of the fall, the curse. Satan you shall
slither on your belly, woman you shall suffer pain in childbirth, man you shall till the land in sweat.
But there is hope, for a Savior will come through the Seed of the woman who will crush satan's
head, but only after satan bruises His heal on the cross. This one is perpetual, woman still suffer
in birthing, and man still sweats in the field. The Savior has come for sin, but next times He
comes for His kids.
Noahic Covenant: (Genesis 8:21-9:17). We will look at that in this study. It is a perpetual
covenant.
Abrahamic Covenant: (Genesis 12,15,17). God telling Abraham I am going to bless you, and the
nations will be blessed through you. For through the line of Abraham the Savior will come, and all
who will receive Him will be free form sin and death. It is a perpetual covenant for the Love of the
Lamb is available to all who will receive, every tribe, nation, and tongue. I am also going to give
you a land that will be yours forever.
Mosaic Covenant: (Exodus 19, 24, 34). Better known as "The Law". This is a conditional
covenant for it is based on; if you will do this you will be blessed, if you will that, then you will be
cursed. It is an if/then covenant. If you do right then you will be blessed, if you do wrong, then
you will be cursed. This covenant is not perpetual for it was superceded by the New Covenant.
Palestinian Covenant: (Duet 30). This covenant deals with the land of Israel. It states that the
land of Israel will be the Jews forever and ever. It is perpetual, forever and ever, regardless of
what Yassar Arraft thinks or says, regardless of what the United Nations or the United States
says, it is the Jewish peoples forever and ever.
David Covenant: (2 Sam. 7:12; 22:51) From King David's seed would come a ruler who would
reign on the throne forever - King Jesus. This one of course is perpetual, forever and ever. This
covenant agreement reached its highest fulfillment when Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of the
line of David, was born in Bethlehem about a thousand years after God made this promise to
David the king (Matt. 1:1; 2:4–6; Luke 1:29–33).
New Covenant: (Jeremiah 31:31-34 see also Heb 8:3). God says I will write my will on the
tablets of your heart. Jesus would say His blood is the blood of the New Covenant (Matt 26:27-
28). It is no longer and external covenant, but an internal covenant. It is Christ in you, the hope
of Glory (Col 1:27). It is God Himself taking up residence in your body to lead you and empower
you for your walk with Him.
(Matthew 26:27 NKJV) Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you.
(Matthew 26:28 NKJV) "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
(Colossians 1:27 NKJV) To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the
Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
3 Components of the Noahic Covenant:
• Diet - 9:2-4 (The Foods given to Eat)
• Discipline - 9:5-6 (Punishment for Murder)
• Declaration - 9:7-17 (God will never flood the world again)
Diet - 9:2-4 (The Foods given to Eat)
(Genesis 9:2 NKJV) "And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be on every beast of
the earth, on every bird of the air, on all that move on the earth, and on all the fish of the
sea. They are given into your hand.
(Genesis 9:3 NKJV) "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. I have given you
all things, even as the green herbs.
Vegetarian / Special People
Prior to the "flood" man was a vegetarian, but here God allows man to eat meat.
(Genesis 1:29 NKJV) And God said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the
earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food.
(Genesis 1:30 NKJV) "Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth,
in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food"; and it was so.
I believe the reason for the allowance to eat meat after the flood is, one for variety, but secondly it
will be used by God in the near future to separate Israel from the rest of the world, to set them
apart as God's Special people. When we get to Leviticus we will see how differently their diet is
from the rest of the worlds.
(Genesis 9:4 NKJV) "But you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.
Respect of the Blood
God is giving man a respect for blood early in their history. Later on we will be told that the life of
the flesh is in the blood and man is not to eat meat with blood. Of course, the Jewish people, to
the present day, strictly follow this command. An orthodox Jew would not buy meat in a gentile
butcher shop. They will only buy meat where it is certified "kosher;" which means, the Rabbi must
observe the butchering process and make sure that the animals are thoroughly bled. This was
later codified in the Law of Moses and was also carried over to the gentile believers in the New
Testament. James, when dealing with the new gentile believers in Antioch, Syria and Cilicia said,
"For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these
necessary things; that ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood and from things
strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well..." (Acts 15:28-
29).
Discipline - 9:5-6 (Punishment for Murder)
(Genesis 9:5 NKJV) "Surely for your lifeblood I will demand a reckoning; from the hand of
every beast I will require it, and from the hand of man. From the hand of every man's
brother I will require the life of man.
(Genesis 9:6 NKJV) "Whoever sheds man's blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in
the image of God He made man.
Establishment of Human Government / 3 Institutions
Here we have the establishment of human government, specifically dealing with the sanctity of
life. There are 3 institutions that God established; the family, government, and the Church.
God is talking about the sacredness of life and he is establishing a new order or new law. When
Cain killed his brother, God allowed Cain to live under a curse; but, no man was to take his life.
As we get further into the law, we will find God has set out the law for manslaughter. If you kill
someone by accident, there would be a city of refuge for you to flee to and as long as you stay in
that city the death can not be avenged. Capital punishment was established by God for
premeditated murder early in the history of mankind.
Ripple Effect
Remove the sanctity of life from a nation, and the nation will not survive. People left to kill as they
will, will lead to a nation in chaos. If a culture gets away from capital punishment, then there
becomes no fear of taking life. People say the worst I get is life in prison. In our day we see cold-
blooded murders back out on the streets only serving a portion of their sentence. What happens
is a rippling effect through the whole penal system. Example: when murder is the death penalty,
then rape is 30 years, bank robbery is 15. When murder becomes 30 years, then rape becomes
15 years, and bank robbery then is 7. Murder is the bar in which all other punishments are based
on. Personally, I believe rape and murder are the same heinous crime, for both of them takes a
life.
New Order for New World
Noah is the President of the world at this time, God is saying you are starting a new world with a
new government. The flood may have washed the world, but man is still evil (Gen 8:21). Man
must be punished severely for murder, or the world will self-destruct itself. Establish from the
beginning that murder is the death sentence. I also believe this passage gives us a little more
insight into how evil and wicked the world was before the flood, for God wastes no time in
establishing Capital Punishment for this new world.
Romans 13
Romans 13 instructs us to be subject to the governing authorities. Can you imagine living in this
county if there were no laws or officers to enforce the law? You would live in constant fear for
your life, and for your family's life. The Noahic Covenant is perpetual, forever, because the New
Testament reinforces this position on enforcement by force. Laws without consequences are
merely advice.
(Romans 13:1 NKJV) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God,
and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
(Romans 13:2 NKJV) Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will
bring judgment on themselves.
(Romans 13:3 NKJV) For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority?
Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
(Romans 13:4 NKJV) For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword
in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
(Romans 13:5 NKJV) Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake.
The Sword / Forgiveness / Reaping
Notice verse 4, “he does not bear the sword in vain”, the sword represents death in the
Scriptures. What about forgiveness, what about the New Covenant, what about we are to love
and forgive? Absolutely, but there is a separation between forgiveness and the punishment. It is
the law of reaping and sow still, even when it applies to the Death Penalty. A person can commit
a sexual sin and be forgiven, but if the person contracts a STD it is not because they were not
forgiven, but that they were sowing were they should not have been.
Applying the Covenant
The Noahic Covenant is perpetual, therefore so is Capital Punishment. We still eat meat, God
will not flood the earth, and Capital Punishment is still applicable today. This is why it is important
to understand the covenants in the Bible, so we can clearly apply the Word. People have lots of
opinions on Capital Punishment, especially when they try to apply the NT principles, but we need
not struggle when we simply understand the Covenants.
Declaration - 9:7-17 (God will never flood the world again)
(Genesis 9:7 NKJV) And as for you, be fruitful and multiply; Bring forth abundantly in the
earth And multiply in it."
(Genesis 9:8 NKJV) Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying:
(Genesis 9:9 NKJV) "And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with
your descendants after you,
(Genesis 9:10 NKJV) "and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle,
and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth.
(Genesis 9:11 NKJV) "Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh
be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the
earth."
(Genesis 9:12 NKJV) And God said: "This is the sign of the covenant which I make
between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:
(Genesis 9:13 NKJV) "I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the
covenant between Me and the earth.
(Genesis 9:14 NKJV) "It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow
shall be seen in the cloud;
(Genesis 9:15 NKJV) "and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and
every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all
flesh.
(Genesis 9:16 NKJV) "The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember
the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the
earth."
(Genesis 9:17 NKJV) And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have
established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth."
Comfort to Noah / The Bow
God established His covenant with the Rainbow. After the flood the earth became watered by
rain, but it did not rain prior to the flood. We know that the rainbows are caused by the prisms
formed in the droplets of water with the background of a cloud and the sun shining on the water
that is falling. It is a beautiful sight to behold and the rainbow should remind us of the faithfulness
of God's promise to Noah. God has to give Noah this promise, for reassurance, 371 days
watching the whole world get wiped out, that is a lot for a person to see. Can you imagine, every
time Noah heard thunder he would have freaked out if it wasn’t for God’s promise here.
I like the interpretation of an ancient Rabbi. He points out that there is a bow, but no arrow, for
the arrow of judgment has already been shot. The bow without an arrow represents never again
a flood will wipe out the world.
(Genesis 9:18 NKJV) Now the sons of Noah who went out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and
Japheth. And Ham was the father of Canaan.
(Genesis 9:19 NKJV) These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth
was populated.
(Genesis 9:20 NKJV) And Noah began to be a farmer, and he planted a vineyard.
(Genesis 9:21 NKJV) Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in
his tent.
There are those who suggest that this was possibly an accident and that the juice or wine did not
ferment prior to the flood. There is no substantiation of this in scripture. Take the Scripture for
what they say, Noah got drunk.
Everyday Life
Noah, he preaches for 120 years, builds a boat in front of scoffers, rides the storm out, and now it
is time to get back to everyday life, going to work in his field. Look out Christian, like Noah this is
when we can put our guard down and get whacked. When the storms rage we pray and
fellowship, but so often when things are going well, and we are just cruising, that is when we let
up on our devotions and fellowship, and get whacked.
Drunkardness exposes you, it leaves you shameful. Things you wish you hadn't said or done are
all out in the open now.
(Proverbs 31:4 NKJV) It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink;
(Proverbs 31:5 NKJV) Lest they drink and forget the law, And pervert the justice of all the afflicted.
(Genesis 9:22 NKJV) And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and
told his two brothers outside.
(Genesis 9:23 NKJV) But Shem and Japheth took a garment, laid it on both their
shoulders, and went backward and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were
turned away, and they did not see their father's nakedness.
Ham’s Sin / Earth Destroyed – but not the Sin Nature
Ham is showing no respect toward his father. The patriarchal society was extremely strong. In the
scripture the command was to honor your father and your mother and this act against his father
was a dishonorable act. I believe that it was the disrespect that Ham had for his father and his
fathers condition which was his sin. It is interesting that God destroyed the earth with a flood, but
sin was not destroyed. It was still a part of man's nature and remains a part of man's nature
today.
Seeing People as Paul Did
Shem and Japheth covered their father, they did look at him in this state. Paul says I not going to
know no man in the flesh, Paul only wanted to see people as they were robed and covered in
Christ.
(2 Corinthians 5:16 NKJV) Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have
known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.
(2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold,
all things have become new.
Love Covers Sin
Shem and Japheth wanted to cover their dad, that is what love does, it covers a multitude of sins.
(1 Peter 4:8 NKJV) And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
A picture of grace given before us; we all fall, how fast we get back up can be dependant on how
many hands are there to help lift us up. Love will cover a multitude of sin. Yes there comes a
day when we say enough, for the protection of the sheep, but let us error on the side of grace
first,
(Genesis 9:24 NKJV) So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had
done to him.
(Genesis 9:25 NKJV) Then he said: "Cursed be Canaan; A servant of servants He shall be
to his brethren."
(Genesis 9:26 NKJV) And he said: "Blessed be the LORD, The God of Shem, And may
Canaan be his servant.
(Genesis 9:27 NKJV) May God enlarge Japheth, And may he dwell in the tents of Shem;
And may Canaan be his servant."
Parent & Children
Caanan is Ham's son. Parents there are repercussions for you sin down upon your children. We
see over and over drunkardness of a father being followed by a child, we see a man who abuses
his wife has a son who abuses his, likewise for the kids. Sin can be taught to our children, they
learn by example.
I am by no means talking about generational curses, which is errant teaching.
(Deuteronomy 24:16 NKJV) "Fathers shall not be put to death for their children, nor shall the children be put to death for
their fathers; a person shall be put to death for his own sin.
Curse Upon the Black Man
More errant teaching on Ham, which means black or hot. As we get into Chapter (11), and we
find the various nations that are descended from Noah; we will find that this is a prophesy of
Noah. One of the worst perversions of scripture is that fallacy that the curse upon Canaan was
that he was to become black and thus the black people are a servant race. That is not scriptural
but a perversion that was developed by those men engaged in the slave trade in order to
assuage their consciences over the vile thing that they were doing. The descendants of Canaan
were the ancient Phoenicians who, at one time, were one of the strongest and most powerful
people on the earth. It is also true that the Egyptians and Africans were descendants of Ham but
that they should be the servant class is a fallacy and not scriptural at all. The word implies that
these would be the people who would bring to man many of the advances in the fields of
technology. They would be of service to mankind is really the idea.
Shem descendants are in the Mid-East region. Ahem means glory, and the Messiah will come
through his line.
Japheth's line settled in Europe.
(Genesis 9:28 NKJV) And Noah lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years.
(Genesis 9:29 NKJV) So all the days of Noah were nine hundred and fifty years; and he
died.
Noah & Abe Contemporaries / First Hand account
An interesting fact is that Noah lived for 58 years of Abraham's life. It is quite possible that
Abraham could have heard the story of the flood from Noah, himself. According to the scriptures,
Noah was about the third in longevity of the antediluvians and even though he lived after the flood
when the canopy was removed from the earth; the decreasing of longevity seemed to be a
gradual decline in their life spans
350 Year Gap
350 years, what a large gap, I'd like to know what Noah did in those days, it is sad to leave him at
story of drunkardness. But I'm glad that even in his failings, we still read about him for the way
God sees him, a man of faith, a preacher of righteousness.
(Hebrews 11:7 KJV) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to
the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
God does make all things new, He does forget, He does put our sins as far as the east is from the
west. Praise Him that He doesn’t keep reminding us of our sins, but accounts us righteousness.
(2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness
of God in Him.
Remember Your Salvation – not Your Sin
Jesus said, “I don’t want you to remember your sin and failures. I want you to remember your
salvation by continual celebration.” The price has been paid. The blood has been shed. The work
is done. Jesus left us with Communion, not that we would say, “Oh, we’re such sinners,” but that
we would say, “Oh, what a Savior!”
“Do this in remembrance of Me.” In other words, He didn’t say, “Remember your sin.” He said,
“Remember your Savior” (see Luke 22:19).
End of the Flood Section
So ends this section of the major world event – the Flood. Next study we will study the tower of
Babel. Unfortunately we will see it didn't take long for man to start his decline again. Thankfully,
the we are not just studying history, but His-Story, and the New Covenant will come.
Genesis Chapter 10
The Table of Nations
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Table of Nations / Same Blood
Chapter 10 is known as the "Table of Nations", it gives the lineage from Noah. Everyone on this
earth ultimately came through Noah, so there is where your family line begins, with Great
Grandpa Noah. From Noah, and nobody knows, we would have come through one of his three
sons, Shem, Ham, or Japheth. So from Noah, each and every one of us have the same blood
flowing through us, we are family.
60 / 14 / 20 / 26
There are 60 families total listed here in chapter 10. 14 through Japheths line, 20 through Ham's,
and 26 through Shem's line. From these three sons will come all the nations, languages, and
races.
Where did the Races come from?
The question asked so often is where did all the races come from, how can we have the Negro,
the white, and the Asian if man all came from Noah? The answer is found in chapters 10 and 11.
The land and people will be dispersed to various regions, regions (continents) that we know today
as Asia, Europe, and Africa. Once on these continents, man will adapt, not evolve, to his
environment. Simple example, today you see me before you totally different from what I looked
like ten years ago. Today I have darker hair and light skin, which show my families European
decent. But ten years ago I had light (almost blonde) hair, with darker tanned skin, why?
Because I lived in Florida for 10 years. What happened was that my body adapted to the
environment that I lived in. The melanoma in my skin produced pigments that rose to the surface
of my skin to protect me from the harmful UV and IR rays of the sun.
Product of our Continent
Imagine if generation after generation, for hundreds of years my family line would stay in Florida,
eventually dark skin would be a dominate gene that would be passed on from child to child.
Today we can see the racial characteristic of people for the region they live in (North America
excluded, for since 1500 it is a mixing and melting pot of the world - that s what makes it so
great). The hot intense sun of the African continent produces the dark skin Negro. The mild,
colder climate of Europe produces the lighter skin race. The in-between climate of Asia produces
the medium skin of Asian race.
So there is an easy, acceptable answer to the racial difference challenge
(Genesis 10:1 NKJV) Now this is the genealogy of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and
Japheth. And sons were born to them after the flood.
Shem means Glory / Abraham-Issac - Jacob
Shem is the line we are most concerned with, for through his line will come Jesus. All the other
genealogies will eventually drop off in the Bible for Jesus is the only we are concerned with – for
this is His-story. Shem means glory, and God will reveal His glory through his line, for the
Messiah will come through Shem's line, through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Also through his
line, through Abraham will come Ishmael, the Arab people.
The sons of Japheth
(Genesis 10:2 NKJV) The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal,
Meshech, and Tiras.
Through Japheth we have the European lineage. So if you have a European decent, you came
through this line.
Russia / Ezekial 38-39 / Great Wall of China
Magog, Tubal, and Meshech are the Russian people. These names are important to know for
Bible prophecy. Ezekial 38-39 we read they will come from the north to invade Israel, but God
will miraculously protect Israel and defeat Russia. Meshech is the ancient name for Moscow.
Interesting, the Great Wall of China, which is 7,000 miles, the Chinese people call this the Wall of
Magog, for it was to protect them from their neighboring enemy, which we see on our map today -
Russia. So ancient history calls Magog, Russia.
Iran vs Iraq Reason
Madai is the Medes and the Persians, today what we know as Iran. Interesting to understand for
today's newspaper headlines. Iran is a Muslim nation, but they do not come from the lineage of
Shem through Ismael, but through Japheth. They technically are not an Arab ethnic group, but
they are Muslim. Iraq on the other hand comes through the line of Ishmael and are Arab. That is
why there is tension between Iran and Iraq. However they both have a common hatred for the
Jewish people and the nation of Israel.
Tiras - modern day Italy
(Genesis 10:3 NKJV) The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
Gomer - modern day Germany
Togarmah - modern day Turkey. They are from Japheth, therefore they are not an Arab people,
that explains why they were willing to work with the US in the "Iraqi Freedom" war of 2003.
(Genesis 10:4 NKJV) The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
Javan - is modern day Greece
Tarshish - is modern day Spain or England. It is not positive exactly which one it is, most likely
England. Tarshish is where Jonah left from.
(Genesis 10:5 NKJV) From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated
into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their
nations.
Japheth drops off at Babel
At this point Japheth's descendants are dropped when the gentiles are divided in their land. This
took place at the time of the building of the Tower of Babel. Shem lost track of Japheth and his
descendants once they were scattered and it isn't necessary to go further in that lineage. We are
only interested in the line to Abraham, who comes through the line of Shem.
The sons of Ham
(Genesis 10:6 NKJV) The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
Ham’s line is what we see today as the African continent.
Ham - settles in the African region. His name means "hot, dark".
Cush - settles in the area of Ethopia. Jeremiah 13:23 speaks of them having distinctive skin, and
Isaiah 45:14 speaks of them being very tall.
Mizraim - modern day Egypt
Put - modern day Libya
Canaan had to be Wiped out
Canaan - is the area of Israel, but they were not a Jewish people for the are from line of Ham, not
Shem (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob). They are past tensed, because god gave Joshua the command
to totally wipe them out of the land when the children of Israel took the Promised Land. They had
to be wiped out because of their wickedness and horrible immorality. They had child sacrificing
rituals, sexual immorality, and worshipped strange gods. God said they must be wiped out so
they don't infect and pollute the children of Israel. Man today must not forget that God is also a
God of wrath, and that His judgement will come upon those who reject His ordinances.
(Deuteronomy 7:1 NKJV) "When the LORD your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out
many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and
the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you,
(Deuteronomy 7:2 NKJV) "and when the LORD your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly
destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them.
(Genesis 10:7 NKJV) The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and
Sabtechah; and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.
Saudia Arabia / Ezekial 38-39
Sheba and Dedan - this is modern day Saudi Arabia. They too will pop up again in Ezekial 38-39
for they will protest against the Russian invasion, but will do nothing to stop it. Some believe
Russia will be coming through Israel to acquire it for a strategic military position so they can
continue on to take Saudi Arabia for its oil.
No Mention of USA
There is no mention of a nation like USA in Ezekial 38-39 so the question is where are they? A
couple thoughts: a revival happen before the rapture and America becomes a 3rd world nation
overnight. Or, America crumbles from within due to her immorality and is no longer a world
player. America becomes an isolationist due to the fears and threats of terrorism. I'm living for
option 1, and praying for a great revival in our day.
(Genesis 10:8 NKJV) Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.
(Genesis 10:9 NKJV) He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like
Nimrod the mighty hunter before the LORD."
Nimrod means Rebel
The word Nimrod means "rebel." The mighty hunter, before the LORD is not in a good sense. It is
in a rebellious sense, against the LORD. Nimrod hunted the souls of men, he was wicked and
evil. Nimrod is the founder of the Babylonian Religious System and he became a dictator of the
civilization that he established.
Nimrod picture of Anti-christ / Establishes 1 world govt, religion, economy
Nimrod is a picture of the anti-christ, (2 Thess 2:8). The anti-christ is a yet future world leader
who will establish a one-world government, a one-world economy, and a one-world religious
system. He will be a powerful and charismatic leader. He could be alive today but he will not be
revealed until after the church is raptured. Now the world won't see him as the anti-christ, but as
a savior, an answer to the world's problem. He will come in peace, promote peace, but then turn
on the world with war.
Anti-Christ will perform signs and wonders
Mighty one - doing things that amaze people. The anti-christ will work signs and wonders with
the power of satan, and the world will be amazed and marveled. Nimrod was such a man.
(Revelation 13:13 NKJV) He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in
the sight of men.
(Genesis 10:10 NKJV) And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, Erech, Accad, and
Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
King of Babylon / Saddam Hussein
He was king of Babel, which is Babylon, so Saddam Hussein was the last known king, and
Nimrod was the first – hopefully you have a better insight of who Saddam really was. Babel
originally meant gateway to god, later after the dispersion it became to mean "confusion". We will
see in chapter 11 he is building a tower into the heavens. We read about this Babylon in
Revelation 17 and 18, it is in rebellion to God. All false religions and self-efforts have roots in
Babylon.
(Genesis 10:11 NKJV) From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir,
Calah,
He went out and established the Assyrian empire, which one day would carry-off Israel
Story of Queen of Heaven / Tammuz / Christmas & Easter
Here is an interesting story, do you really want to know where Easter and Christmas came from.
Nimrod had a wife whose name was Semiramis and she became known as "The Queen of
Heaven." She had a son, which she claimed to be virgin born (which a can't figure out if she was
already married) and she named him Tammuz. He was being groomed to be the center of
worship by the people. One day while hunting, a wild boar gored him; he lay dead for three days
and when he was found he revived. They celebrated his birth on the 25th of December. They
would burn a Yule log on the fire until it was completely consumed, but in the morning a tree
would appear, brightly decorated in the home (the parents would bring it in after the children fall
asleep). It was an evergreen tree, which was a symbol of perpetuated life. To celebrate his
resurrection from being gored by the boar, they began to decorate eggs and to have a celebration
in the springtime, which later became known as Ashtar, the Greek for Semiramis. The egg, again,
is a symbol of continued life. Does all this sound familiar? These are the true roots of these
holidays, and they were thousands of years before Christ.
Satan's Counterfeit Plan / But how?
Their story was first, before the birth of Jesus, how can that be? It is quite fascinating to realize
that Satan developed his own counterfeit to God's Plan, which he knew. Of course some people
use this story to say that Christianity is a copy of this story. Truly if you don't think it all the way
through, it could cause you to question. But as always, let the Scriptures be the anvil that breaks
all the hammers that come against it.
Signs in the Stars
Here are two solid reasons for how the counterfeit superceded the original. It would seem that
God had set His plan in the stars, which were set for signs and for seasons:
(Genesis 1:14 NKJV) Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night;
and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years;
The Scriptures can lead us to believe that the Gospel is really there in the signs of the Zodiac;
but, Astrology has become a perversion of that. This all came about at the time of Nimrod, who
was one of the instigators of building the Tower of Babel to reach into Heaven. You may say I am
stretching the Scriptures there in Genesis, but the Book of Matthew concurs:
(Matthew 2:1 KJV) Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came
wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
(Matthew 2:2 KJV) Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are
come to worship him.
When the birth of Christ took place there were still men in the East, who could read the stars and
they were brought from afar, to worship the child that was born, by these signs. There are many
interesting books on the Zodiac and the message of the gospel in the Zodiac. If you are
interested in a more detailed study of the origins, that we find in the 10th chapter of Genesis,
there is a book "The Genesis Record" by Dr. Henry Morrison. It traces each one of Noah's sons’
national roots.
2ndly / Satan goes to and Fro
Secondly, Folks, Satan inspires people. He is the prince and power of the air, he fills and
energizes people who are tuned into his station. Now Satan knows the story, he goes before the
throne, he has been able to come and go. He knows enough of the details to create a
counterfeit.
He knew back in the garden what it meant, he knew that he would hurt Jesus (gore Him):
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall
bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
How did he know the resurrection after 3 days, because the story of the resurrection was laid out
before the foundations of the world:
(1 Peter 1:18 NKJV) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless
conduct received by tradition from your fathers
(1 Peter 1:19 NKJV) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot
(1 Peter 1:20 NKJV) He indeed was foreordained before the foundations of the world, but was manifest in these last
times for you
(1 Peter 1:21 NKJV) who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your
faith and hope are in God.
(Revelation 13:8 NIV) All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the
book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.
And we know that Satan has access to come and go before the throne as he desires (but that will
come to an end in the Last Days). We read this in the story of Job. Satan comes and makes
accusations against you and me, and he comes and hears all that the Lord is doing:
(Job 2:1 NKJV) Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan
came also among them to present himself before the LORD.
(Job 2:2 NKJV) And the LORD said to Satan, "From where do you come?" So Satan answered the LORD and said,
"From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it."
(Job 2:3 NKJV) Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the
earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although
you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause."
The death and resurrection of Christ was told before the foundations of the world, and satan knew
enough of the story to build his counterfeit. It wasn't hard to find a willing participant in the
Nimrod family, for they were rebellious against God, and was looking for the souls of men.
Nimrod is still stealing the souls of men today in a sense, for those that will use this story as
justification not to follow the real-thing, Jesus Christ.
He energizes people, and people will follow his lie. Joseph Smith is a modern day example:
(Ephesians 2:1 NKJV) And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
(Ephesians 2:2 NKJV) in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the
power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
Jesus not born on Dec 25
Jesus was not born on the 25th of December, for the shepherds do not have the flocks in the
fields at that time of year. Our Christmas truly is celebrated at the same time as Pagan
celebration. Why?
Our Christian Celebration Today / Babylon Seeped into the Church
We are shocked as we realize that these celebrations resemble very strongly those holidays that
we hold year after year. The shocking thing is that we have no biblical base for our celebrations,
but there is a very strong pagan base. We find that Satan established his counterfeit very early in
the history of man there in Babylon and that is why Babylon has become synonymous with the
false religious system in scripture typology. We realize that these Babylonian practices have
become inculcated deeply within the structure of the church. The church has carried and
promoted these practices. When Jesus addresses the church of Pergamos in Revelation; he
declares his displeasure with some of the practices of the church. When he gets to Thyratira, who
has fully incorporated these practices, Jesus comes down heavy upon them.
Early Persecution / Constantine
In the early days of the Christian Church they wanted to celebrate the birth and resurrection of
Jesus Christ. Of course there was great persecution going on in those days, and many
underground churches. So they said let us celebrate at the same time as the pagans do, and
nobody will know that we are celebrating Christ rather than Tammuz. Now it was during the
period of Constantine (313AD) that the church became the state religion; but, he sought to bring
the pagan practices along with it and so, created the marriage of paganism and Christianity.
Constantine took the practice of "Saturnalia" and incorporated it with the Christian calendar,
calling it Christmas and celebrating the birth of Christ.
God warns them in Revelation
This is what brought Babylon into the church. When Jesus speaks to the church of Sardis His
complaint was they didn't pull completely away from the Babylonian practices. "...I have not found
thy works perfect before God." (Rev.3:2b). Yes, you've pulled out of a system deeply steeped in
Babylonian practices, but you didn't come all the way out. The Lord comes down heavy, in
Chapter (17) of Revelation, on the Babylonian System that has invaded the church and he
speaks of God's coming judgment against this system.
God warns in the OT
God warns of following the Queen of heaven (Jer 7:18, Jer 44:18-25). God warns not weep for
Tammuz (who is also know in false religions as Astoreh, Venus, and Jupiter):
(Ezekiel 8:13 NKJV) And He said to me, "Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing."
(Ezekiel 8:14 NKJV) So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord's house; and to my dismay, women were
sitting there weeping for Tammuz.
(Ezekiel 8:15 NKJV) Then He said to me, "Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater
abominations than these."
In Jeremiah 10, we see God's warning against this pagan practice. They are told not study the
stars (astrology), we see a picture of the Christmas Tree:
(Jeremiah 10:1 NKJV) Hear the word which the LORD speaks to you, O house of Israel.
(Jeremiah 10:2 NKJV) Thus says the LORD: "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of
heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them.
(Jeremiah 10:3 NKJV) For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the
hands of the workman, with the ax.
(Jeremiah 10:4 NKJV) They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not
topple.
Should We Celebrate Christmas / Easter?
Should we as Christmas celebrate Easter and Christmas if they roots and origins in Pagan
celebrations. Truly that is for every man to decide, and be at peace with, but let me share a point
with you on this matter. But I say don't burn you Christmas ornaments yet, don't throw eggnog in
uncle Harold's face, don't send your families tracts on why Santa Claus is the anti-christ, for if you
do you will alienate yourself from them, they'll think your nuts, and you will lose your chance to
witness to them. Consider this first
Jesus at the Festival of Lights
In John 10 we read the story of Jesus being in Jerusalem, teaching in the temple, during the
"Feast of Dedication" also known as the Festival of Lights, more commonly today - Hanukah.
This festival is not an established Fest for the nation Israel. You will not read about it in the OT.
Background of Feast / Antiochus / Macabees / Historical
The story of the Feast of Dedication is that in 165BC, Antiochus Epiphany came into Jerusalem
and said he was the "glory of god". He was a madman and kills thousands of Jews. He is
another picture of the anti-christ. He goes into the temple and places a statue of the Greek god
Jupiter in there, and he sacrifices a pig on the altar. But Judas Macabees, who came from a
family of priests, launched a guerrilla warfare against Antiochus army and won. So he freed and
liberated the Jewish people - the Jews still celebrate this victory today. It is recorded as a
historical factual event, not a legend.
Rededication of the Temple / Non-Historical
Now as the story goes, and this part is Jewish traditions and writings (it may be historical, it may
not be), is that when they went in to clean the temple and set it up for worship again, when they
went to light the Menorah, they found that they only had enough oil to burn for one day. For the
menorah to be lit, and then go out would be terrible. The oil that was to be used for the temple
menorah had to go through an eight day ceremonial preparation before it could be used. Now as
the story goes, it did not go out on day one, nor two, nor three, but it lasted the whole eight days
until the fresh batch was prepared properly. Today the celebration is known as Hanukkah, and
they light one candle a day.
Jesus Maximizes the Opportunity
The point, Jesus in John 10, is in Jerusalem, during a time of celebration that isn't even an event
that is Biblical. What we notice first is that He is there, He is not up at the Sea of Galilee saying I
staying away from this celebration. But what does He do at this Festival of Lights? What he
always does, He seizes the opportunity to turn the people to the truth. Lets look at the passages
leading up to chapter 10 to see Him at work:
During the Festival of Lights, He proclaims He is the Light of the world:
(John 8:12 NKJV) Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not
walk in darkness, but have the light of life."
He lets them know what the important truth is:
(John 8:32 NKJV) "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
He opens the eyes of a blind man:
(John 9:5 NKJV) "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
(John 9:6 NKJV) When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed
the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
(John 9:7 NKJV) And He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated, Sent). So he went and
washed, and came back seeing.
(John 9:25 NKJV) He answered and said, "Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I
was blind, now I see."
Then chapter 10, He says I am the Door, and the Good Shepherd:
(John 10:9 NKJV) "I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:10 NKJV) "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have
life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
(John 10:11 NKJV) "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
Then He confirms He is the way to Eternal Life:
(John 10:22 NKJV) Now it was the Feast of Dedication in Jerusalem, and it was winter.
(John 10:23 NKJV) And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon's porch.
(John 10:24 NKJV) Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, "How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the
Christ, tell us plainly."
(John 10:25 NKJV) Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name,
they bear witness of Me.
(John 10:26 NKJV) "But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.
(John 10:27 NKJV) "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.
(John 10:28 NKJV) "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My
hand.
Jesus turns them Him
Man hasn't changed I know this, so that holiday would have become a ritual, the meaning would
have been lost after the couple hundred years, and it would be like our Christmas today - Jesus is
lost in the shopping and decorating. But what does Jesus do, He takes a celebration, and relates
it back to the true meaning, He is the Light of the World, he then uses the season to open blind
eyes, and show them the truth, He is the Good Shepherd.
For Us / the Gift / The Tree of Life
For us, at Christmas, do what Jesus does, point people from the celebration to the Christ. We
should turn people from the carnal worldly ways, to the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of
their Savior. If they want to talk about gifts, tell them about the greatest gift, the gift of salvation.
If they want to talk about the Christmas tree, tell them about the tree that brings life, the cross of
Christ.
St Nick
How about Santa Claus. Well do you know that saint Nicolas was a preacher in what we know as
modern day Turkey. He had a heart for the poor people. He would bring them food and fuel in
the cold winter months. He is a true historical person who reached out to those in needs and
gave them gifts, Be a Saint Nicolas to be people, reach out to their needs and give them the
ultimate gift, the free gift from the father, the gift of eternal life.
The World Craves A Good Father
Christmas in the world around us proves what the world is really craving. They are craving a
Father figure who will love them and come to them. Use Christmas, like Jesus did, point them to
Savior. Don't let it take you to where the world is going. We always look forward to Christmas as
an opportunity to reach the world, but I also worry about the already saved, because I watch over
and over, how they get caught up and districted, and some of them never return.
Don't Confuse your Heavenly Father
As a side note, for you here today that your father hurt you, wasn't there for you, was a poor or
terrible father, Listen! Don't confuse the Heavenly Father with your earthly father. Your Heavenly
Father is always there for you with loving open arms, ready to receive you and give you His
greatest gift, His Gift of love.
(Genesis 10:12 NKJV) and Resen between Nineveh and Calah (that is the principal city).
(Genesis 10:13 NKJV) Mizraim begot Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,
(Genesis 10:14 NKJV) Pathrusim, and Casluhim (from whom came the Philistines and
Caphtorim).
Philistines - is where Goliath came from
(Genesis 10:15 NKJV) Canaan begot Sidon his firstborn, and Heth;
(Genesis 10:16 NKJV) the Jebusite, the Amorite, and the Girgashite;
(Genesis 10:17 NKJV) the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite;
Sinite - where the Chinese, Japanese, and Asian people came from.
(Genesis 10:18 NKJV) the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. Afterward the
families of the Canaanites were dispersed.
(Genesis 10:19 NKJV) And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon as you go toward
Gerar, as far as Gaza; then as you go toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboiim, as
far as Lasha.
(Genesis 10:20 NKJV) These were the sons of Ham, according to their families, according
to their languages, in their lands and in their nations.
These families of Ham were dispersed during the time of the Tower of Babel when the gentiles
were divided, then Shem lost track of these particular descendants of Ham
The sons of Shem
(Genesis 10:21 NKJV) And children were born also to Shem, the father of all the children
of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder.
Eber - is the root of the word Hebrew. Hebrew means "crossing over". They will cross over into
the Promised Land.
(Genesis 10:22 NKJV) The sons of Shem were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.
(Genesis 10:23 NKJV) The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash.
(Genesis 10:24 NKJV) Arphaxad begot Salah, and Salah begot Eber.
(Genesis 10:25 NKJV) To Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg, for in his
days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
The Earth Divides
In Peleg's day it says the earth was divided. The word for earth here is "ertes". It is a reference
to the earth itself, not the people on the earth. The world looks like a puzzle that can be fit into 1
piece. This is known as the "Pangue theory". We know scientifically today what is called the
"continental drift", which is the land masses drifting apart from each other, this evidence would
support the Pangue theory. It is quite possible that one land mass could have become fractured
during the flood with all the upheavals going on (as previously studied). When God sends them
out from Babel, it would not have taken much, maybe an earthquake at some point to break the
land into pieces, and the Continental Drift could have taken them apart.
(Genesis 10:26 NKJV) Joktan begot Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
(Genesis 10:27 NKJV) Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
(Genesis 10:28 NKJV) Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
(Genesis 10:29 NKJV) Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
(Genesis 10:30 NKJV) And their dwelling place was from Mesha as you go toward Sephar,
the mountain of the east.
(Genesis 10:31 NKJV) These were the sons of Shem, according to their families,
according to their languages, in their lands, according to their nations.
Notice here Christian, God loses track of not one person. He sees to it that it is recorded for
eternity. Know that the same is true for you, He knows exactly where you, today, tomorrow, and
forever.
(Genesis 10:32 NKJV) These were the families of the sons of Noah, according to their
generations, in their nations; and from these the nations were divided on the earth after
the flood.
In our next study we will see the nations divide, their one world language brought them to a place
where God was going to have to judge them for their evilness. It applies to us, for the first time
since Babel, the world is speaking the same language, it is the language of 1's and 0's, it is called
the computer.
Genesis Chapter 11
The Tower of Babel
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Only 5000 people / 100 years
Noah had come forth out of the ark and it is now about four generations after the "flood." The
population of the earth was not, as yet, very great; it was probably not more than eleven hundred
adult males, (estimated from the genealogy records here in chapter 11). So the building of the
Tower of Babel (mans attempt to reach the heavens on their own) is just a little over a hundred
years after the "flood." Sadly God’s Words of Genesis 8:21 ring true, and ever so soon:
(Genesis 8:21 NKJV) And the LORD smelled a soothing aroma. Then the LORD said in His heart, "I will never again
curse the ground for man's sake, although the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy
every living thing as I have done.
We will see very early man starts moving away from God’s plan for his life, and starts building a
future own his own, which as always will lead to confusion.
How Quickly Man Forgets
Only 100 years after the flood, the greatest judgment the world had ever seen, and yet man starts
moving away from God. 6-10 billion people perished in the flood, and yet man is bold enough to
turn and forget the Lord. You still have eyewitnesses to the events, retelling the story, and yet
people turn. I wonder if they had heard the promised covenant to never flood the world again and
figure they are safe, what could possibly come against them if the flood would never come again.
What we see in this story is God's grace being misunderstood; God's grace being taken as a
license to sin. You would think after hearing the story of the flood, maybe remnants still visible
(homes and city piled in heaps), man would say this is a God of grace, but also of wrath, I better
walk according to His ways. We can read the story and say how can only 100 years from the
flood could they turn, amazing. But consider out today (and I do not mean any of these things are
the judgment of God) a little over 2 years ago the US cried out to God on 911, and on March 24
the Supreme Court will rule on if "in God we trust" should be removed from our pledge. Victory in
Iraq and Afghanistan may be the reason. A flood never again, terrorism on the run, all is well.
(Genesis 11:1 NKJV) Now the whole earth had one language and one speech.
(Genesis 11:2 NKJV) And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found
a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there.
Moving Eastward
We see that people moved eastward we see them moving away from the Lord.
• (Genesis 3:24 NKJV) So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a
flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.
• (Genesis 4:16 NKJV) Then Cain went out from the presence of the LORD and dwelt in the land of Nod on the east
of Eden.
• (Genesis 13:11 NKJV) Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they
separated from each other.
Nimrod and his followers are moving away from God’s plan for their life, saying we have a better
way, my way. They are repeating the “way of Cain.”
(Genesis 11:3 NKJV) Then they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake
them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar.
(Genesis 11:4 NKJV) And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower
whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered
abroad over the face of the whole earth."
Ziggurat / Communication Towers
It was a ziggurat, which is, an ancient Mesopotamian temple tower consisting of a lofty pyramidal
structure, built in successive stages with outside staircases and a shrine at the top. The intention
was to follow the Zodiac and to communicate with heaven or have understanding of the heavens.
It was really a perversion of the astrological message that God had placed in the stars.
Their Leader was Nimrod / Rebel
(Genesis 10:8 NKJV) Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty one on the earth.
(Genesis 10:9 NKJV) He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; therefore it is said, "Like Nimrod the mighty hunter
before the LORD."
Their leader of this building project was Nimrod, and his name means "rebel." The mighty hunter,
before the LORD is not in a good sense. It is in a rebellious sense, against the LORD. Nimrod
hunted the souls of men, he was wicked and evil. Nimrod is the founder of the Babylonian
Religious System and he became a dictator of the civilization that he established. Nimrod wasn’t
trying to get the people closer to God though this tower, rather he was trying to pull them away.
Babylon – roots of all False Religions
But sadly, soon after the flood, they had degraded into the worship of false gods. Babylon was
the source of all false religions. As a result, the term Babylon is synonymous with a false religious
system. In Revelation, Babylon is called the "mother of harlots." God saw that their minds were
against Him and that they were seeking other gods.
The ancient practices of the Babylonian religion involved child sacrifices, prostitution, and drug
usage (they thought the drugs would make them more spiritual by opening their minds to the spirit
world).
(Galatians 5:19 KJV) Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness,
(Galatians 5:20 KJV) Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
The word used in Galatians 5:20 for witchcraft is “pharmakeia, far-mak-i'-ah;” it is where we get
our word "pharmacy", the word for drugs. Nimrod is leading the people into these abominations,
and away from God’s plan for their life.
Nimrod picture of Anti-christ / Establishes 1 world govt, religion, economy
Nimrod is a picture of the anti-christ, (2 Thess 2:8). The anti-christ is a yet future world leader
who will establish a one-world government, a one-world economy, and a one-world religious
system. He will be a powerful and charismatic leader. He could be alive today but he will not be
revealed until after the church is raptured. Now the world won't see him as the anti-christ, but as
a savior, an answer to the world's problem. He will come in peace, promote peace, but then turn
on the world with war.
First Gov’t Project / Rockefeller
(Genesis 11:3 KJV) And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick
for stone, and slime had they for mortar.
I like the KJV of verse 3, they used slime as mortar. It is interesting that the first government-
building project was held together by slime. The slime was a tar-like substance or asphalt. This
asphalt for mortar is what triggered the brain of John Rockefeller in thinking, "If there is asphalt,
there must be oil." That is why Standard Oil Company began exploring for oil in the region of Iraq
and tremendous oil deposits were found in the Middle East. So again, reading your Bible will
enrich you in more ways than one.
Abraham Compared to Them
They were building a city for themselves, making a name for themselves. They were moving
away from God, they were moving east. But it won’t be long after, God will bring a man who will
be opposite of them, his name will be Abraham, and he will be listed in the Hall of Faith:
(Hebrews 11:8 NKJV) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an
inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
(Hebrews 11:9 NKJV) By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and
Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
(Hebrews 11:10 NKJV) for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham looking for a City
Abraham will leave his city, and move towards God, he will not look to build a city in his name, but
pitch tents and build altars. He wouldn’t build a temple in his name, but an altar to worship the
Lord. He looked for a city not of this earth, but one whose builder and maker is God.
What we will study next chapter is that Abraham was once like them, an idol worshipper, but God
called him out of those things, and Abraham obeyed, and was blessed for it. (See Hebrew’s
Study on chapter 11).
What Do I See in Nimrod - Abraham
What do I see in Cain and Nimrod? I see Noah and Abraham? What do I mean? I see that as
man continues in wickedness, God is always looking for those who will leave their wants and
desires, and step out with God and do great and mighty things. Today God is looking for the
Noah’s and Abraham’s of our day, He is calling men and woman out of the world to add new
names and write new chapters in the Hall of Faith. If you will hear the Spirit, He is calling you.
Maybe your saved, well God is calling you to lead a family, maybe even a nation. Maybe you are
still at the ziggurat, well then hear the Spirit call you, like Abraham, come out of that land, and
come to a city whose builder and maker is Me – the Lord of All Creation.
Rather than be discouraged and want to give up as I see bombs in Madrid, bombs in Baghdad,
world leaders trying to pull people away from the Lord, I am encouraged as I look at these
passages and watch that for every Cain is an Abel and Noah, for every Nimrod God has a
Abraham. I am more encouraged and excited, that in a small manner, I am an Abraham, you are
a Noah, as we are people we walk with God and are pleasing to Him, and He displays His glory
through us.
(Genesis 11:5 NKJV) But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the
sons of men had built.
(Genesis 11:6 NKJV) And the LORD said, "Indeed the people are one and they all have
one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will
be withheld from them.
God Not threatened / It’s His Mercy
God isn’t threatened by them, for who can overthrow Him, but He is causing them confusion
rather than condemning. We see God’s mercy here, as he disrupts their sin, causes confusion.
Has God ever done that to you? You were well on your way to sin, you had the plan and
everything, and then your car won’t start, someone calls you on the phone. It’s His mercy.
Today the Computer Language
Their minds were on thoughts of evil continually, and they had one language, so nothing could
stop them from continuing in their evil. There are an estimated 3,000 different languages and
dialects in the world today, but for the first time since Babel, the world is speaking the same
language, it is the language of 1's and 0's, it is called the computer. We can type into a computer
English, and the output will be Spanish. It is not that the internet is evil, but the one world
language has caused an increase in evil. Man's mind is continually on evil, and the internet puts
it at the touch of his finger, 24/7. Pornography, pedophiles, prostitution, all at an all-time high, as
the internet is the avenue to meet and engage. Also up is STD and HIV. As knowledge
increases, it is only limited by man's imagination, which the word tells us is continually upon evil.
So not only do we live in the day's of Noah, we also live in the day's of pre-Babel.
Knowledge will Increase / Anti-Christ
(Daniel 12:4 NKJV) "But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and
fro, and knowledge shall increase."
In the last days knowledge will increase, and with man having one language again, the stage is
set for the anti-christ to deceive the world again, just like Nimrod did at Babel.
(Genesis 11:7 NKJV) "Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they
may not understand one another's speech."
(Genesis 11:8 NKJV) So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all
the earth, and they ceased building the city.
(Genesis 11:9 NKJV) Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD
confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad
over the face of all the earth.
God Plural / To Undo
God, plural (a verse for the Trinity), comes down to undo the works of Nimrod. Nimrod as we
studied in the last chapter is a picture of the anti-christ. God will come done again, and undo the
work of the anti-christ as we have studied in the Book of Revelation.
Imagine the Moment it Happens
I wonder if when we get to heaven there will be some type of video system that will replay
moments in history. I'd love to watch this one. They are all working together, each day saying
look at our accomplishments, won't be long now. But then in a moment, the language is
confused. Several, a dozen, who knows. At that moment Joe says Pedro throw me that 2by4,
perdonome', uno, dos, tres! Joe says whats up with that, Pierre come help me - Wee! Utter
confusion
Apart from God - Confusion
Originally the word Babel meant "gateway to god". What they thought was going to be their
gateway to god, by their efforts, turned into confusion.
(Psalms 127:1 NKJV) Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the
city, The watchman stays awake in vain.
Anything apart from God's way will cause confusion in your life. If you have confusion in your life,
if it is mixed up, then I recommend you take a close look at your life and see if there is a tower of
Babel in your life somewhere. If there is a tower of Babel in your life, then confusion will follow,
and dispersion and scattering will be your life.
The Earth Divides
The word "babel" has come to mean "confusion," for the Lord confounded their language and
scattered them over the face of the earth. There are those who believe that it is quite possible
that at this time the earth was divided or that the continental separation happened at this time. It
is commonly called the "continental drift." We know that shortly after this period, many advanced
forms of civilization sprung up, all over the earth, and varied techniques of building were used that
are still a marvel today. The pyramids of Egypt were built shortly after this time and are still an
engineering marvel. Experts have figured that the great pyramid was built about the time of
Abraham. About this same period of time, the Indians were building pyramids over in Central
America and Southern Mexico and their architectural style corresponded somewhat with those in
Egypt. These engineering marvels have created great curiosity among scholars. Each of the
nations, as they were scattered, carried their own stories of the flood and thus you find records of
a great flood, universally throughout the world.
(Genesis 11:10 NKJV) This is the genealogy of Shem: Shem was one hundred years old,
and begot Arphaxad two years after the flood.
The Story Shifts
Verse 10 the story shifts and God starts the story of Abraham. God is saying I am not going to
leave the world left in confusion. I am going to start a line that will lead up to the one who will set
all things straight - that one will be my only begotten Son. The line will start through the man
Abraham, and it is through him all the nations of the world will be blessed.
Add the ages up and it is about 340 years from the flood to Abraham. The tower of Babel was
only about 100 years past the flood.
There are ten generations from Shem to Abraham and we find that Shem lived up to the time that
Abraham was approximately fifty-eight years old. One interesting fact is that Shem lived to see
his children to the ninth generation.
We have no real interest in the list of names in verses 12-25, until we get to verse 26 we read of
Abraham's father.
(Genesis 11:11 NKJV) After he begot Arphaxad, Shem lived five hundred years, and begot
sons and daughters.
(Genesis 11:12 NKJV) Arphaxad lived thirty-five years, and begot Salah.
(Genesis 11:13 NKJV) After he begot Salah, Arphaxad lived four hundred and three years,
and begot sons and daughters.
(Genesis 11:14 NKJV) Salah lived thirty years, and begot Eber.
(Genesis 11:15 NKJV) After he begot Eber, Salah lived four hundred and three years, and
begot sons and daughters.
(Genesis 11:16 NKJV) Eber lived thirty-four years, and begot Peleg.
(Genesis 11:17 NKJV) After he begot Peleg, Eber lived four hundred and thirty years, and
begot sons and daughters.
(Genesis 11:18 NKJV) Peleg lived thirty years, and begot Reu.
(Genesis 11:19 NKJV) After he begot Reu, Peleg lived two hundred and nine years, and
begot sons and daughters.
(Genesis 11:20 NKJV) Reu lived thirty-two years, and begot Serug.
(Genesis 11:21 NKJV) After he begot Serug, Reu lived two hundred and seven years, and
begot sons and daughters.
(Genesis 11:22 NKJV) Serug lived thirty years, and begot Nahor.
(Genesis 11:23 NKJV) After he begot Nahor, Serug lived two hundred years, and begot
sons and daughters.
(Genesis 11:24 NKJV) Nahor lived twenty-nine years, and begot Terah.
(Genesis 11:25 NKJV) After he begot Terah, Nahor lived one hundred and nineteen years,
and begot sons and daughters.
(Genesis 11:26 NKJV) Now Terah lived seventy years, and begot Abram, Nahor, and
Haran.
Abraham's father was Terah, his name means "delay", and we will read the significance of that in
the next chapter.
Lines Drop / Genealogy of Messiah
Earlier, we read some of the genealogies of Ham and Japheth and they had nothing to do with
the coming Messiah. Now we are going to narrow down our genealogical trail and follow the
family of Shem from which will come Abraham, from which will come the Messiah. The Bible was
not intended to be a genealogical record of all the various tribes and families. It follows some of
them for a few generations and then drops them. We are only interested in the line which leads
us to Jesus Christ and all of the others can be set aside. Later on God tells us the Messiah will be
from the line of David, the line of Judah, etc. God keeps narrowing down the line so that we don't
have to trace a lot of genealogies.
It would be difficult for a person to lay a claim to being the Messiah, today. He would have to
prove that he was of the tribe of Judah, the family of Jesse and that he was from the house of
David, in order, to have a legitimate claim to being the Messiah. Since the time of Christ, there
have been no genealogical charts kept; so, they can not really trace their roots. It would be
impossible for someone to prove that he was from the tribe of Judah and the house of David;
therefore, he could not lay an indisputable claim to being the Messiah. God didn't see any need to
keep the records once Christ was born.
Fast Food Deception / Acts 17:11
However, because of our fast-food information age we live in, many people will just blindly accept
the anti-christ when he comes, because people today have lost the drive to dig into things and
ask the questions why and how. Such as; how will we know the Christ if we can’t prove out his
lineage. For us Christians, the same holds true, we need to search out all things told to us:
(Acts 17:11 NKJV) These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
(Genesis 11:27 NKJV) This is the genealogy of Terah: Terah begot Abram, Nahor, and
Haran. Haran begot Lot.
(Genesis 11:28 NKJV) And Haran died before his father Terah in his native land, in Ur of
the Chaldeans.
(Genesis 11:29 NKJV) Then Abram and Nahor took wives: the name of Abram's wife was
Sarai, and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah, the daughter of Haran the father of Milcah and
the father of Iscah.
(Genesis 11:30 NKJV) But Sarai was barren; she had no child.
She is barren, but her barrenness will get her into the “Hall of Faith”. Shortcomings and faults
leave you hopeless according to this world, but in God’s world, they are places for Him to prove
His glory.
(Genesis 11:31 NKJV) And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of
Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them
from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they came to Haran and dwelt
there.
(Genesis 11:32 NKJV) So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah
died in Haran.
Before the flood we saw people living on the average of 800-900 years; but post flood we start
watching the life spans drop, as we see Terah dying at 205. the average life span today is 70-75
years. The longevity of life drops to the collapse of the water canopy that surrounded the earth
before the flood. It would filter out and/or diminish the harmful UV and IR radiation that cause
cellular degeneration in our bodies.
Genesis Chapter 12
Abraham, the Father of all Nations.
The Call of Abraham
Genesis 12:1-3
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Chapter 12, the start of the major families. And we start with Abram, who later God will change
his name to Abraham. Abraham is called the Father of all Nations, and we will see why, He is
listed in the Hall of Faith in Hebrew's 11 and we will see why. Abraham is a fascinating study,
and an encouraging study. We will see that Abraham was a man of faults just like us, but we
watch God work mightily thorough his life, and we know that that the Lord doesn't change,
therefore we can trust that He will do the same in our lives:
(Malachi 3:6 NKJV) "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
(Hebrews 13:8 NKJV) Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
(Genesis 12:1 NKJV) Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From
your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you.
Had Said
“Had said”, past tense; when did God say that to him? About 25 years prior when Abraham was
living in Ur of the Chaldeans which is in Babylon. Abraham was about 50 years old and
apparently had done pretty well for himself.
Luxury Life / American Dream / Get out of There
Ur of the Chaldeans was an advanced civilization. Archeologist have uncovered in the area
advanced medical center, advanced uses of metal, they found in a house a trigonometry problem
that was being worked on, that still mathematicians in Oxford University haven't solved. He had
the best of the world, yet he left it, not even knowing where he was going. Ur was were the
bathtub/hot tub was invented. Abraham lived in wealth it appears from the Scriptures, he had a
beautiful wife we know from the Scriptures, and he was a religious man (but not follower of God).
He basically was living the American dream. I’m sure the world would say to him “you got it
made.” But read God says get out from there, and come with me.
Abraham’s Choices / Idol Worshipper
Abraham had a choice to make at this point, the riches of this world, or to step out in faith and
follow God, not even knowing where he was going. The world may say that Abraham had it all,
but we know that he was lost. Abraham wasn’t always a follower of God, he first worshipped
false gods and idols:
(Joshua 24:2 NKJV) And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Your fathers, including
Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served
other gods.
(Joshua 24:3 NKJV) 'Then I took your father Abraham from the other side of the River, led him throughout all the land of
Canaan, and multiplied his descendants and gave him Isaac.
Human Sacrifice / Temple Rituals
Rabbinic tradition says that Abraham's father (Terah) was an idol maker, which was possibly his
livelihood. Abraham followed false gods. Archaeological discoveries say that idol worship in the
area of Ur included human sacrifices. We know many of these Babylonian religions included the
use of drugs. Some of them included prostitution - their ritual included going to the temple and
having paid sex with the woman there. Guess what, your wife had to take her turn at the temple.
It was a sick religion.
God Seeks him Out
Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country - Abraham was worshipping idols
with the rest of the people of Babylon, following the false religions that Nimrod devised to rebel
against God and lead people away from God. But notice, in the middle of his idol worship, God
reaches out to him. Abraham didn’t seek God, but God sought Abraham:
(Romans 3:10 NKJV) As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
(Romans 3:11 NKJV) There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
(John 6:44 NKJV) "No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last
day.
(Ephesians 1:4 NKJV) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, ……………………….
The same is true today, we didn’t seek Him out, but He came to us, and revealed Himself to us,
and we chose Him. For some of you today, He is calling you right now, and you have a choice to
make.
God Starting a Whole New thing
Now back in chapter 11, the tower of Babel, we see the world was in a great state of confusion,
led by Nimrod. God in His mercy sends down confusion before they destroy themselves because
of their continual thoughts of evil. And now God says to Abraham, I am going to start a whole
new thing through you. I am going to make a nation from you. I am going to make a covenant
with you:
8 Covenants
There are 8 specific Covenants we see in the Scriptures:
Definition of Covenant
"a sovereign proclamation of God, from the lips of God, that puts Him in a relationship of
responsibility with a man, a family, a nation, and/or the world. It is a proclamation of God saying
this is what I am going to do.
Sometimes these covenants are:
• Conditional
• Unconditional
• Perpetual (Forever)
• Expire.
Edenic Covenant: (Genesis 2:16-17). God declares to Adam and Eve, all of this is for you to
enjoy, but if you eat of the tree of Knowledge and Evil, you shall surely die. This one is perpetual
for we see man dying everyday as the result of the world being plunged into sin.
Adamic Covenant: (Genesis 3:14-19). Here is the result of the fall, the curse. Satan you shall
slither on your belly, woman you shall suffer pain in childbirth, man you shall till the land in sweat.
But there is hope, for a Savior will come through the Seed of the woman who will crush satan's
head, but only after satan bruises His heal on the cross. This one is perpetual, woman still suffer
in birthing, and man still sweats in the field. The Savior has come for sin, but next times He
comes for His kids.
Noahic Covenant: (Genesis 8:21-9:17). Included the Diet (The Foods given to Eat); Discipline -
(Punishment for Murder); and the Declaration (God will never flood the world again). It is a
perpetual covenant.
Abrahamic Covenant: (Genesis 12,15,17). God telling Abraham I am going to bless you, and the
nations will be blessed through you. For through the line of Abraham the Savior will come, and all
who will receive Him will be free form sin and death. It is a perpetual covenant for the Love of the
Lamb is available to all who will receive, every tribe, nation, and tongue. God also is going to
give Abraham a land that will be his forever.
Mosaic Covenant: (Exodus 19, 24, 34). Better known as "The Law". This is a conditional
covenant for it is based on; if you will do this you will be blessed, if you will that, then you will be
cursed. It is an if/then covenant. If you do right then you will be blessed, if you do wrong, then
you will be cursed. This covenant is not perpetual for it was superceded by the New Covenant.
Palestinian Covenant: (Duet 30). This covenant deals with the land of Israel. It states that the
land of Israel will be the Jews forever and ever. It is perpetual, forever and ever, regardless of
what Yassar Arraft thinks or says, regardless of what the United Nations or the United States
says, it is the Jewish peoples forever and ever.
David Covenant: (2 Sam. 7:12; 22:51) From King David's seed would come a ruler who would
reign on the throne forever - King Jesus. This one of course is perpetual, forever and ever. This
covenant agreement reached its highest fulfillment when Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of the
line of David, was born in Bethlehem about a thousand years after God made this promise to
David the king (Matt. 1:1; 2:4–6; Luke 1:29–33).
New Covenant: (Jeremiah 31:31-34 see also Heb 8:3). God says I will write my will on the
tablets of your heart. Jesus would say His blood is the blood of the New Covenant (Matt 26:27-
28). It is no longer and external covenant, but an internal covenant. It is Christ in you, the hope
of Glory (Col 1:27). It is God Himself taking up residence in your body to lead you and empower
you for your walk with Him.
The Covenant to Abraham is God is going to make him a great nation, that will bless the whole
world. It is not until Jacob, that God changes his name to Israel, and this is where we get the
name for the nation of the Jewish people.
3 Reason Israel the Chosen
Why is the nation Israel a chosen nation, why are they a chosen people? It is important to know
and understand, so we can piece together our Old Testament history leading up to Jesus Christ,
and so we can understand why things are as they are in the Middle East and world today.
3 Reasons:
1.) To be a Witness of God’s Ways.
2.) A Keeper of God’s Word
3.) A Channel of God’s Wonder
1.) To be a Witness of God’s Way
God glorifies Himself through Israel. The world may be confused and in chaos, but God wants
the world to see Him clearly:
(Isaiah 44:23 NKJV) Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into
singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel.
The Jewish nation was to be a light unto the world. The Jews were to show the world what it was
like to have God as the Leader of their nation. Israel was to make the whole world crave to follow
the God of the nation Israel (remember Rahab).
(Isaiah 49:6 NKJV) Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation
to the ends of the earth.'"
(Psalms 33:12 NKJV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
Unfortunately, turned it from being a missionary/witnessing calling to the world, to a self-righteous
chosen election. It reached the point that the Jewish people believed that all that a Gentile
(anyone not a Jew) was good for was to fuel the fire of Hell. They would walk down the street
and when they saw a Gentile yell, unclean, unclean, and cross over to the other side. If their
clothing brushed against a Gentile they would go home and bathe, and burn their clothing. Sadly,
we can see some of that same mentality in the church today, a loss of love for those who are
perishing, refusing to get dirty to snatch them from hell.
2.) A Keeper of God’s Word
We all should be deeply grateful to the Jewish people, for they were meticulous in maintaining the
purity of Gods Word, and we are blessed and benefit greatly form it today:
(Romans 3:1 NKJV) What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
(Romans 3:2 NKJV) Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
3.) A Channel of God’s Wonder
Through the Jewish nation, specifically Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would come the Messiah.
The promised Seed of Genesis 3:15:
(Genesis 12:3 NKJV) I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of
the earth shall be blessed."
So the promise given to Abraham:
(Genesis 12:2 NKJV) I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name
great; And you shall be a blessing.
(Genesis 12:3 NKJV) I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses
you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
Nations Blessed / Nations Cursed / Arab – US relations
United States of America, heed these words here. God said He would make Abraham's name
great and to this day Abraham's name is great to the Jew, the Mohammedan and to the Christian.
We all look back to Abraham as our father and the greatness of this man who believed and
trusted in God. The three major religions of the world all honor and respect the man, Abraham. It
is interesting that every nation that has persecuted the Jew later goes into a decline. Spain, after
the Inquisition, was reduced to a fifth rate nation; Rome soon fell after beginning to persecute the
Jews; the Greek civilization, after defaming the temple, fell; and of course, Germany, of more
recent history, fell from being a great power as a result of persecuting the Jews. I believe part of
the blessing of the United States is that we have become a refuge to the persecuted Jew. The
blessing of Abraham is to come upon all the families of the earth and we are blessed today
because of Jesus Christ, who was born of the seed of Abraham.
The Arab nations in the Mid-East that want to be friends with us only do so that they might
influence us to pressure Israel to give up more land, or weaken their military. They don't like us
any more than they like Israel.
3 Promises
Do you notice something here? God is promising Abraham three very specific things here:
• The making of a great nation.
• The giving of a name
• Protection (bless those, curse those)
Exactly what Babel Wanted
What God gave Abraham, is exactly what they were looking for at Babel:
(Genesis 11:4 NKJV) And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens;
let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth."
What man wanted at Babel, is what God gave to Abraham, and all Abraham had to do was follow
God. At Babel, the things they wanted, a nation, a name, protection, they said "Let Us", do these
things, in our energies, in our efforts, in our own ways, and it all ended in confusion and
scattering. God says to Abraham, follow Me, and I'll give you a nation, a name, and protection
Spinning Wheels / Seek First
(John 15:5 NKJV) "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without
Me you can do nothing.
Apart from Jesus you will just spin your wheels. We have all been there: I'm gona build my
business, my career, make my name known at work, recreation, or ministry. I'm going to find
security and protection in this person or that bank account. Guess what, you'll never find it, you'll
never have rest in it. When we seek first the kingdom of God, we find all these things falling in
place for us:
(Matthew 6:31 NKJV) "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we
wear?'
(Matthew 6:32 NKJV) "For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all
these things.
(Matthew 6:33 NKJV) "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to
you.
Overwhelmed / Seeking the Father
When we say Lord I am going to follow you, I am going to seek you today, I am going to trust in
you, then things start working for us. So often, truthfully, very often, I find myself going back and
forth between Chapter 11 and Babel, and Chapter 12 and Abraham. I so often allow myself to
overwhelm myself. Something comes up and I say how am I going to figure this out, or fix this
thing right. I think upon it over and over and find my mind confused, and thoughts scattered.
It is only when I slow down, refocus, and say Father I am just going to spend time with you. I
want to spend time in worshipping you, walking with you, and enjoying you, and I find that things
start falling in place. Some things even take care of themselves without me getting involved. But
mostly what happens, when I spend time with the Lord I have the peace and security that He will
take care of them, and help me along in them.
Remember Peter
It was after Jesus' resurrection; Peter says I'm going fishing who wants to go. So off they go,
even though Jesus had told them to tarry in Jerusalem until the promised Holy Spirit comes, but
instead they go fishing:
(Luke 24:49 NKJV) "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are
endued with power from on high."
So they are out fishing all night, catch nothing. Jesus comes to the shore line, they don't
recognize Him, think He is a stranger, and Jesus yells out to them, did you catch anything, and
they say zilch. Jesus says then cast your net on the other side of the boat, and they do, and the
net is filled, ready to burst. Immediately Peter says, that’s the Lord, and he dives in a swims to
shore (beautiful picture - sometimes we just need to forget all and dive in).
The Very Thing / What’s Churning
Now when he gets to shore, there is Jesus with a blazing fire going, with fish cooking. The very
thing that they were looking for, the very thing they were laboring for all night, the very thing they
got nothing of, Jesus already had it.
(John 21:9 NKJV) Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
Whatever it is that is churning in you tonight, eating at you, know that Jesus already has what you
are looking for, and all you have to do is just draw near and follow Him.
God Starting Something New with Abraham
God was starting something new, and He said Abraham, follow me, and all the things that they
were looking for at Babel will be yours, if you just follow me. And He says the same to you and I
tonight.
The Burning Fire / Do You Love Me
You know what I find so interesting about this story, there is a fire burning right there:
(John 21:9 NKJV) Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.
And this is the place that Jesus asks Peter the question - Do you love me?
(John 21:15 NKJV) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love
Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."
(John 21:16 NKJV) He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes,
Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep."
(John 21:17 NKJV) He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because
He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love
You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep.
3 Times / Flashback to Last Supper
Three times Jesus asked Peter do you love me. It was three times that Peter denied Him. I
wonder if when Jesus asked the question, if Peter would look at the fire, and remember that night.
I wonder if he flashed back to that last supper, and his promise to follow even if everyone else
scattered, even to death.
(John 13:36 NKJV) Simon Peter said to Him, "Lord, where are You going?" Jesus answered him, "Where I am going you
cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward."
(John 13:37 NKJV) Peter said to Him, "Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake."
(John 13:38 NKJV) Jesus answered him, "Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the
rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.
Couldn’t Follow – Wasn’t Called / Hears what he Longed to Hear
I believe Peter will put something together; I couldn't follow, because I wasn't called to follow. But
then Peter hears what he longed to hear from his Savior - "follow Me":
(John 21:18 NKJV) "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you
wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not
wish."
(John 21:19 NKJV) This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said
to him, "Follow Me."
Peter Can Follow Unto Death / Burning Coals
This time Peter, even unto death, knows he will be able to follow, because Jesus said "follow
Me". He will know that follows, means that someone leads, and that Leader is Jesus. Burning
coals will never be a reminder of defeat, but a promise. Burning coals will take him back to that
place where he heard the word's he ever so longed to hear - Follow Me! If I’m Peter, I’m at a
place I never want to leave. On the beach with Jesus, a fire burning, eating with my Savior, and
hearing those precious words, - Follow Me.
Abraham – His Failures in Faith
Genesis 12:1-10
We Grow in Faith / Fail in Faith
Now, we grow in our faith. As Peter grew, so did Abraham. Abraham wasn’t born with great
faith, and he his share of failures in faith. Be encouraged in his story, for God knows your
failings, but He isn’t made at you, He knows we are still learning how to walk – walk by faith, not
by sight. Right off the bat, as soon as we meet Abraham, we watch him fail in faith:
(Genesis 12:1 NKJV) Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From
your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you.
(Genesis 12:2 NKJV) I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name
great; And you shall be a blessing.
(Genesis 12:3 NKJV) I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses
you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
When Did God say get out of the Land
Get out from your land and family, now when was that said. Stephen tells us in Acts 7. Abraham
was told while he was still in Ur:
(Acts 7:2 NKJV) And he said, "Brethren and fathers, listen: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he
was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Haran,
(Acts 7:3 NKJV) "and said to him, 'Get out of your country and from your relatives, and come to a land that I will show
you.'
(Acts 7:4 NKJV) "Then he came out of the land of the Chaldeans and dwelt in Haran. And from there, when his father
was dead, He moved him to this land in which you now dwell. (See Gen 11:31-32)
(Acts 7:5 NKJV) "And God gave him no inheritance in it, not even enough to set his foot on. But even when Abraham had
no child, He promised to give it to him for a possession, and to his descendants after him.
(Genesis 11:31 NKJV) And Terah took his son Abram and his grandson Lot, the son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law
Sarai, his son Abram's wife, and they went out with them from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to the land of Canaan; and they
came to Haran and dwelt there.
(Genesis 11:32 NKJV) So the days of Terah were two hundred and five years, and Terah died in Haran.
Abraham doesn’t Do What Told
God tells Abraham to leave Ur, leave his family, and what does he do? What does our hero of
faith do, he takes his dad (Terah) and his nephew (Lot) with him. Not only does he do that, but
he didn’t leave the land of Babylon, he only made it about half way. Haran is still in the
Babylonian region, it is only 600 miles from Ur of the Chaldees.
Terah, means “delay”. Terah took control (Gen 11:31), and they stayed in Haran until he died, 25
years later, and then they moved on to the land God called him to go to.
(Genesis 12:4 NKJV) So Abram departed as the LORD had spoken to him, and Lot went
with him. And Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.
25 Years Wasted / Leave Mom and Dad
There is a 25 year gap between Genesis 12:1 and Genesis 12:4. 25 wasted years. Wasted
years because anytime you are not where God wants you to be, you are wasting time. Terah
means delay, now I don’t know Terah’s spiritual condition, but I do know that he keep Abraham
from doing what the Lord called him to do. Maybe even well meaning. But listen Christian, I
know how hard it is to tell Mom and Dad, no. But if God has given you a call, then be obedient to
that call, don’t let family get in the way.
(Matthew 8:21 NKJV) Then another of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father."
(Matthew 8:22 NKJV) But Jesus said to him, "Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead."
If you have been called to the mission field, Bible College, or whatever, by the Lord, then do it,
even if it will upset your parents, even if they think you should stay at your nice job and make a
comfortable living, even if they want you to be a lawyer instead of a missionary.
Guess what happens, Abraham doesn’t hear from the Lord for 25 years
(Genesis 12:5 NKJV) Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all
their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in
Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
(Genesis 12:6 NKJV) Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as
the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.
(Genesis 12:7 NKJV) Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I
will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
When Abraham finally started to move again, after 25 years, then God spoke to him again.
Lots of Possessions
Verse 5 – See here, Abraham had gathered a lot of possessions while he was in Haran. Be
careful, possessions can bog you down and keep you from going where God has called you to
go. Having things is not sin by any means, but if they ensnare you, weight you down and hold
you back from what God has for you, then they are:
(Hebrews 12:1 NKJV) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside
every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
(Hebrews 12:2 NKJV) looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him
endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
God Didn’t Give Up on Abraham
God didn’t give up on Abraham, God didn’t say I’ll try someone else, no God just waits for
Abraham:
(Isaiah 30:18 NKJV) Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that
He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; Blessed are all those who wait for Him.
God is gracious and merciful, and He will wait for you. What an awesome God.
God will wait for us to be obedient to what He already told us to do. If God’s not speaking to you,
maybe it is because you are not listening. Maybe He called you to a ministry, a time of prayer,
witnessing, or something like, and now He is just waiting on you.
God not Mad / Abe Learning Faith
God is not mad at Abraham, because Abraham is just learning faith. God isn’t mad at you either,
you are growing in faith. Just as God didn’t give up on Abraham, He doesn’t give up on us. When
we come to the New Testament, Hebrews 11 and we read of Abraham, he is given to us as the
classic example of the man of faith. Faith is always marked by obedience. Abraham's faith is held
up as an example to us. The lapses and failure of his faith are not mentioned. God overlooks the
failures, the lapses of his faith, and only tells us of the triumphs of his faith.
God uses Imperfect People
I am glad that God uses imperfect people. If Abraham had been totally perfect (no wavering of
faith) then it would be a discouragement to us. I would think that God couldn't use me, because of
all my imperfections. We might be prone to make excuses, for the failure of committing ourselves
to His service, because we are imperfect. But, God uses imperfect vessels; He used Abraham.
We can't disqualify ourselves because of imperfections, because, God uses yielded vessels not
perfect vessels. That doesn't mean that God doesn't seek to change us. He wants to mold us into
that image of Jesus Christ. How many of us can testify that we are completely perfected in
Christ? We never get angry or upset and we always have the sweetest dispositions and are great
to be around at all times. We realize we can't say that and we do have imperfections. We
sometimes question the things of God and we don't always trust God completely. Difficulties arise
and we try to figure our way out of them instead of trusting in God to see us through the problem.
God Blesses Us Because of His Grace & Love
God doesn't bless us because we're good, but His blessings come to us by virtue of His grace.
We are often of the mental frame that God only blesses us when we are good and so we never
expect God to bless us. We have this hang up that God only blesses, as a reward for our
goodness; but, we find that the blessings of God are given to us by His grace. It was by the grace
of God that He called Abraham. It was by the grace of God that He called you and He blesses
you by His grace. It is not by merit of our works or our faithfulness or diligence, but by His grace I
experience and receive the blessings of God. We don't expect God to bless us for what we are
but for what He is. God is love and He loves us.
So God’s not mad at Abraham’s lapse of faith, for He is growing in faith.
7 References of God Speaking to Abraham
There are seven references (8 counting Melchizedek) here in Genesis of the LORD appearing
and/or speaking to Abraham. These appearances of God to Abraham are actually progressive
and make an interesting study. Abraham is being drawn into a deeper communion and fellowship
with God. The first appearance in Babylon when God told him to get out of the land, he was
brought into the fellowship with the "discontent of God." God was not content with what was
happening in Babylon. He caused this same discontent within Abraham so that he would search
out another place to worship God. Now, Abraham comes into the land. God did not deal with
Abraham while he was in Haran.
God calls Abraham out of his old life:
(Genesis 12:1 NKJV) Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your
father's house, To a land that I will show you.
God gives him a land:
(Genesis 12:7 NKJV) Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And
there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
God adds to the giving of the land – He says it is yours forever:
(Genesis 13:14 NKJV) And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from
the place where you are; northward, southward, eastward, and westward;
(Genesis 13:15 NKJV) "for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.
(Genesis 13:16 NKJV) "And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust
of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
God shows Abraham how large the given land is:
(Genesis 15:1 NKJV) After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid,
Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."………………………….
(Genesis 15:18 NKJV) On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have
given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates;
God expands his descendants, that he will be the Father of many Nations (the Jews, the Arabs,
and the Christians):
(Genesis 17:1 NKJV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am
Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
(Genesis 17:2 NKJV) "And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."
(Genesis 17:3 NKJV) Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:
(Genesis 17:4 NKJV) "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.
God allows Abraham to intercede before Him – destruction of Sodom:
(Genesis 18:1 NKJV) Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door
in the heat of the day………………………………………
(Genesis 18:17 NKJV) And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,……………….
(Genesis 18:27 NKJV) Then Abraham answered and said, "Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon
myself to speak to the Lord:
(Genesis 18:28 NKJV) "Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of
five?" So He said, "If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it."
God lets Abraham see the picture of the Lamb of God 2000 years before it happens:
(Genesis 22:1 NKJV) Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And
he said, "Here I am."
(Genesis 22:2 NKJV) Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of
Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you."
Also,God appears to him in a theophany (which is a bodily appearance of God in the Scriptures):
(Genesis 14:18 NKJV) Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High.
(Genesis 14:19 NKJV) And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and
earth;
God Leads Step by Step
I think that we should take note how the work of God in our life can be stalled by our
disobedience. God leads us step by step. I wish God would lay out the whole plan that He has for
my future. I would appreciate God letting me know what plans He has for me this year so I can
make my plans accordingly. If I only knew a little further in advance it would help me a lot in
planning my future, but God only gives us one step at a time. The next step isn't given until you've
taken the one He just gave you. If you don't take it but question God instead, He is silent until you
obey, then He gives you the next step.
Phillip Leaves a Revival
In the Book of Acts, when Philip was in Samaria having a tremendous revival meeting and many
were being saved and baptized, the angel of the Lord spoke to him and told him to go down to
Gaza. "And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto
the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went;
and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the
Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip,
Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the
prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except
some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him..."
(Acts 8:26-31). Now the Lord didn't tell Philip to go to Gaza and when you get there you will see a
chariot going south, go join yourself to the chariot; there will be a high ranking official there who
will later be baptized. The Lord didn't lay the whole plan out, He just said to go to Gaza.
Phillip could have Questioned / Step 1 First / Same for Abraham
I can see where Philip would have good grounds to question the sanity of God. "Hey God!
There's nobody in Gaza, that place is deserted, but people are being saved here in Samaria.
There's a revival going on here and the potential is great. Why would you want me to go to the
desert? It doesn't seem sensible to leave a tremendous revival to go off to the desert, but when
Philip had taken the first step then God gave him the next step. That is the way the Lord works
and so, God called Abraham to leave the land and Abraham went to Haran and dwelt there. It is
interesting to note that God didn't speak to him all the time he was in Haran nor did He appear to
him again until he came into Canaan. Now that Abraham is in the land, God begins to deal with
him again. When you have been obedient to the first step that God gives you, then He can deal
with you again and give you the next step. The walk of faith is one step at a time.
(Genesis 12:7 NKJV) Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I
will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
(Genesis 12:8 NKJV) And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he
pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the
LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
Whose Land Is It / No man can Stop God
God is giving him the land. Whose land is it? It is God’s and He is giving it to Abraham. God
says I can give it to whomever I want. And again, No man, program, or government can stop the
plan and purposes of God.
Tent Defined his Relationship to World
Abraham had possessions, maybe they bogged him down at some point, but once he starts
moving again, heading where God called him to be, we see him have a whole new mentality.
Abraham had the riches to build a house, but instead chose to live in a tent and build an altar.
The tent defined his relationship with the world, and the altar defined his relationship with the next
world:
(Hebrews 11:8 NKJV) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an
inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
(Hebrews 11:9 NKJV) By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and
Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
(Hebrews 11:10 NKJV) for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
From City-Boy to Tents
dwelling in tents - Abraham dwelt in tents; even though He was a city-boy..
Abraham - This Earth Isn’t It
Why did Abraham embark on such a venture, such a journey? Because he was looking for a city
that had foundations, whose builder and maker was God—all the while knowing that what he was
looking for would never be found anywhere on the face of this earth. We use tents when we are
only staying somewhere temporarily. We stay in tents when we know there is a house for us to
go to for the long stay. No other city has foundation, they are shaky at best.
You’ll never be a man or woman of faith if you’re looking for fulfillment here. No matter your
ministry, your geographic location, your job, or who you marry—you’ll not find it here. Like
Abraham, don’t look for a city that has foundations on earth. Look for eternity, and you’ll
experience heaven in your heart, and you’ll be blessed in your soul wherever you are.
Abraham gives us the Key for Waiting / Tent & Altar
We read through the Scriptures that Abraham pitched a tent and built an altar, that was his life.
We will never walk in faith here on earth if we don't first build an altar, for the altar will fix our
eyes:
(Genesis 12:8 KJV) And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having
Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the
LORD.
Tent Mentality / Altar keeps us Focused
We need to hold loosely to this world; but to do that, to have the "tent mentality", we have to have
an altar, for the altar keeps us focused and centered, our altar is the cross. If we say we have a
tent mentality, that the world isn't here, then living for all we can get out of this world is hypocrisy.
We have to have a light touch on this world as we wait for our future home.
The altar will alter you.
Yes we Miss Out
Yes we do miss out on what others are experiencing. I say that because sin is fun for a season,
but then eventually it puts us in bondage, but we so often forget that. We watch our friends have
it all, we watch people climb the corporate ladder by chewing people up, but we just work hard
and with integrity, and so often get overlooked. Guys watch their friend Ben living the Hollywood
lifestyle, or girls see their friend Jennifer getting all the guys looking her way, but we live in
obedience, moderation, trading those things that are temporal, for the things that are eternal.
And yes it is hard, it is hard waiting, as we watch others get it all, and say why wait.
But that is what faith does, it doesn’t trade the eternal for the temporal. Faith doesn’t sell itself
short.
In Between Bethel and Hai
It says he pitched his tent with Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east. Bethel means “house of
God”, and Hai means “heap”. Abraham is in the middle, and so are we. We have heaven before
us, and the dump behind us.
We have a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God:
(John 14:1 NKJV) "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
(John 14:2 NKJV) "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a
place for you.
(John 14:3 NKJV) "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am,
there you may be also.
(Genesis 12:9 NKJV) So Abram journeyed, going on still toward the South.
(Genesis 12:10 NKJV) Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt
to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.
Egypt type of World
Egypt in the Scriptures is a picture, a type, of the world. And it is interesting that people always
go down to Egypt, and up to Jerusalem (the city of God).
Another Lapse of Faith for Abe
Here is another lapse of faith in going down to Egypt. God was testing Abraham in this famine.
"Do you believe me, Abraham? I've led you to the land, do you believe that I can sustain you in
the land? Abraham flunked the test, because he went down to Egypt. Paul, in writing to the
Galatians said, "Hey you started well, what hindered you?" (Gal 5:7 paraphrased). That's the
case of a lot of people. You get a good start but then suddenly you think, whoa! What am I doing
here? What am I going to do now? And so, we go down to Egypt.
Guess what, God doesn’t talk to Abraham again until he leaves Egypt.
Step by step, God is growing the Father of the Faith, into a Man of Faith, and so too it is with us.
Sarah – A Picture of Submission
Genesis 12:10-20
Last Study / Grow Sarai just like Abraham
Last study we saw how Abraham was a work in progress, how he had failings, but the Lord never
gave up on him, and kept developing him, and maturing him into the man of God we know as the
Father of Nations.
Well, just as God waited and worked on Abraham, so did He with Sarah. We will see in this study
that she too was not perfect from the beginning, and we will see how Abraham played a large part
in that.
Now we will talk about lying, submission, leadership, and faith in these verses; but we will never
be able to say it all, and this can never be an all-inclusive study on those subjects, but we will
take a high level look, and glean much.
(Genesis 12:10 NKJV) Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt
to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.
Abraham's Lapse of Faith / Bad Decisions / With Consquences
As we studied, here is a lapse of faith on Abraham's behalf; he is leaving the place God called
him to be because hard-times fell upon him. It is when everything dries up, becomes barren, that
is when God will teach us a new facet of Himself that I have never known before. Now Abraham
had maybe around a 1000 people dependant on him, and now he is faced on how am I going to
provide for them in a famine. Historical writings tell us that it was common for people during
famines to head to Egypt because of the large Nile river, the land was always fertile and
producing foods.
God was testing Abraham in this famine. "Do you believe me, Abraham? I've led you to the land,
do you believe that I can sustain you in the land? Abraham flunked the test, because he went
down to Egypt. We will see that when you are not where God calls you to be, you will make
some bad decisions, and sometimes those decisions can have lifelong implications, and even
bring pain to others.
(Genesis 12:11 NKJV) And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he
said to Sarai his wife, "Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.
(Genesis 12:12 NKJV) "Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will
say, 'This is his wife'; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.
(Genesis 12:13 NKJV) "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your
sake, and that I may live because of you."
Verse 11 - Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.: Sarai still holds her
beauty at the age of 65.
Half-Truths / Wrong Implication / Jesus' Trial
According to Genesis 20:12 Abram and Sarai truly were half brother and sister. Half-truths are
still lies if the truth part is laid out purposely to deceive. Right information with the wrong
implication is still a lie, so don't play word games or be clever with words.
Remember Jesus' Mock trial, lets find some false witnesses, tell half truths with wrong
implications:
(Matthew 26:59 NKJV) Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put
Him to death,
(Matthew 26:60 NKJV) but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last
two false witnesses came forward
(Matthew 26:61 NKJV) and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'"
Egyptians Frowned on Adultery / Bad Decisions
Abraham is purposely trying to deceive to save his own skin. Now the Egyptians frowned upon
adultery, so to alleviate the problem, they would just kill the man, and then they wouldn't be
committing adultery. Here you see, be where God hasn't called you, and you will make bad
decisions.
Lets Lie / Knew the Problem Yet still Went / The Impossible Problems Today
So here is the man of faith saying, ok they are going to kill me, so lets lie in order to save my skin,
but good luck to you in the harem. Abraham knew his wife's looks were going to be a problem in
Egypt, yet he still went down to Egypt. He knew the risks and danger, yet he still entered in. I
meet people all the time who say they are. were in an impossible situation, so they had to do
what they did (like lie, cheat, live together). Brethren, it is in the impossible situations that God
shows himself strong, it is in the impossible situations that God teaches us trust in Him. For you
today know that if God can create the world we live in by speaking, that He can raise Lazarus
from the dead, He can walk on water, then He can over come any impossible situation in our life.
Lying is a lapse of Faith
Lying is a lapse of faith. Lying is saying that I do not trust God enough to see me through this
situation, therefore I must lie. First and foremost, live as the Lord has called us to live, and we
will not have to lie.
(Genesis 12:14 NKJV) So it was, when Abram came into Egypt, that the Egyptians saw the
woman, that she was very beautiful.
(Genesis 12:15 NKJV) The princes of Pharaoh also saw her and commended her to
Pharaoh. And the woman was taken to Pharaoh's house.
Sarah Vulnerable / Here is Sarah's Submission
Abraham puts Sarah in a very vulnerable position. Can you imagine what Sarah is thinking right
now? Ok you knew this was going to happen; yet you still brought us here, most specifically you
brought me here. Now this is the submission that Sarah is noted for in 1 Peter 3, not the
submission part of lying, but submitting to the part of allowing her husband to bring her to a place
that she was left very vulnerable.
We Still go to Egypt Today
Side Note: We still do this today, we go places that we know well in advance that a danger exist,
but we still keep going down to Egypt. People click that mouse to a place they know is danger,
people stop for happy Hour with the ole friends, click that remote, lay on that bed………..not
much has changed from Abraham, and remember that Abraham grew in faith and maturity, so too
will the Christian. Remember that when a new believer comes and tells you their tale of failing.
But you remember Abraham next time you are tempted to go down to Egypt, for the outcome isn't
going to be all that it appears to be.
(Genesis 12:16 NKJV) He treated Abram well for her sake. He had sheep, oxen, male
donkeys, male and female servants, female donkeys, and camels.
Rolex's / Calvary Pastor / Abraham doing OK
Oxen and camels and servants in those days would be equivalent to getting Rolex's and BMW's
today. Oxen and camels were big gifts back then (even today in the Mid-East). It took a lot to
keep and feed them, especially in a famine. These things are still considered a great possession
in that region. One of the Calvary Chapel Pastors in Colorado was in Israel with his wife, who is a
very beautiful black woman. One of the Arabs took a liking to her and offered him 200 camels for
her. On the flight home she made some wisecrack to him, and he said you're just lucky I couldn't
fit 200 camels on this plane.
But here Abraham is being showered with gifts, in return for his so-called sister. Abraham is
getting showered with gifts at the expense of his wife.
(Genesis 12:17 NKJV) But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues
because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
The Lie Effects Others
Abraham's lie affected others, not just Sarah, but now the Pharaoh and his whole house are sick.
Our lies can have a domino effect, and it isn't just ourselves that get hurt by our lie.
(Genesis 12:18 NKJV) And Pharaoh called Abram and said, "What is this you have done to
me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife?
(Genesis 12:19 NKJV) "Why did you say, 'She is my sister'? I might have taken her as my
wife. Now therefore, here is your wife; take her and go your way."
(Genesis 12:20 NKJV) So Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him; and they sent
him away, with his wife and all that he had.
Nasty Plague / Armed Escorts
Don't know what the plague was, but when we read about them in the Bible they are always
nasty. Pharaoh is sending armed escorts to make sure that Abraham and Sarah get out of the
land safely, so the plague will be lifted.
World Rebukes / World thinks they are OK / The Gospel
How sad it is when the world rebukes us, when the world is more righteous than us. We give
unbelievers reason to mock him. The world looks at us and says if they are all right, then surely I
must be right before God. Listen Christian, the integrity and honesty of a child of God are among
the most potent weapons in spreading the gospel
Abraham's Consquences
Abraham blew it, God bailed him out, but not without consequences. Abraham doesn't walk away
from this scot-free; on the contrary, he pays greatly for this lapse of faith. Genesis 16:1, one of
the maidservants he brings out of Egypt with him, was Hagar, who at the prompting of Sarah, he
will bear a son (Ishmael). Abraham will have to send Ishmael away with Hagar because of
Sarah's bitterness towards her, and this will pain Abraham greatly. But more so, Ishmael will be
the father of the Arab people today who are trying to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. The
Muslims regard themselves as the descendents of Ishmael and view Hagar as the true wife of
Abraham, and Ishmael (or Ismail) his favored son. In the Quran Abraham sacrificed Ismael Surah
37:100-112),while the Bible says it was Isaac (Genesis 22)
Sarah's Submission
Lets take a look at Sarah's submission, the debate about lying, how far is submission to go for a
wife.
Now before we get into this subject of submission, and before anyone tunes out, let me make this
point to all those who say submission is male chauvinism, or male domination; everywhere the
gospel of Jesus Christ has gone, woman have been elevated to equality and respect. Look at the
USA, Europe, Canada, equality. Look where the gospel is forbidden, and you see woman are
oppressed – the Arab nations, China, and the likes. Woman you have come a long way, all
thanks to Jesus Christ. So don’t take submission as suppression, but as the liberty it was meant
to be.
Sarah’s Submission / 1 Peter
Again, Sarah's submission not the submission part of lying, but submitting to the part of allowing
her husband to bring her to a place that she was left very vulnerable, taking her down to Egypt
where the Pharaoh would look upon her and say bring her to me. Sarah becomes the ultimate
picture of submission; her life is recorded as the example for all wives to follow:
(1 Peter 3:1 NKJV) Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they,
without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives,
(1 Peter 3:2 NKJV) when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
(1 Peter 3:3 NKJV) Do not let your adornment be merely outward; arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine
apparel;
(1 Peter 3:4 NKJV) rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is very precious in the sight of God.
(1 Peter 3:5 NKJV) For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves,
being submissive to their own husbands,
(1 Peter 3:6 NKJV) as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not
afraid with any terror.
Master - Lord – means: kurios, koo'-ree-os; from kuros (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e.
(as noun) controller; by impl. Mr. (as a respectful title):--God, Lord, master, Sir.
Wives, your submission is only to your husband, not to other men. And, as we have just read, the
woman is to submit even if the man is not obeying the Word, and you can apply that to mean
whether he is saved or not.
Woman’s Dress
Verse 5 - what is the sharp dressed woman in God's economy is dressed in obedience,
submission to her husband. Wives what does God show that He does for the woman who
submits to her husband, lets look again at these verses in Genesis:
We will see that God did two things for her:
1.) He protected her
2.) Prospered her
1.) God Protects Her
(Genesis 12:17 NKJV) But the LORD plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues
because of Sarai, Abram's wife.
Ladies God will protect you, even if your husband blows it. Pharaoh didn't touch her, God
protected her. Now I am not talking about being a doormat, I'm not talking about not getting to
give your input on a situation, but submitting to his plan, even if it is a bad plan. Submission only
comes when you don't agree. If you are wondering how you are doing in the area of submission,
then examine how you react and behave when you are in disagreement. Also, I might add,
submission is not doing what he wants, and then make his life miserable for it. Being irritable, or
waiting and looking for some flaw so you can blast him about that, when really you are blasting
him about the area you submitted in. Submission isn't having a horrible attitude, but still going
along with his decision. Submission is going along with his plan, even when it doesn't look or
sound like a good one. Go along, and God will protect you.
2.) God Prospers Her Family
(Genesis 13:1 NKJV) Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had,
and Lot with him, to the South.
(Genesis 13:2 NKJV) Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
God prospered her and her family. They left Egypt with loads of riches.
He was very rich, this is the first "rich" is used in the Scriptures and it is because Sarah was
submissive, not Abraham. God will enrich your family for submitting.
Wives submit, and God will protect you through his bonehead mistakes, and he will enrich your
family.
What About the Lie / How far do You Submit
Sarah clearly lied, at least in the second account:
(Genesis 20:1 NKJV) And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between Kadesh and Shur, and stayed
in Gerar.
(Genesis 20:2 NKJV) Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and
took Sarah.
(Genesis 20:5 NKJV) "Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she, even she herself said, 'He is my brother.' In the
integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this."
God's Word always Supercedes
The great debate is, should Sarah have lied? How far are you to submit? Woman, submission is
never in contradiction to the word of God. God's Word always supercedes your husbands and
the government:
(Psalms 138:2 NKJV) I will worship toward Your holy temple, And praise Your name For Your lovingkindness and Your
truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
Need to Know Word / Must Apply Correctly
You need to know the Word before you start wielding around your home. Be careful on how you
justify the Word you use to not go along with his plan. Don't twist the Scripture to fit your position.
The Scriptures about a fool is not applicable:
(Psalms 49:10 NKJV) For he sees wise men die; Likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, And leave their
wealth to others.
(Psalms 92:6 NKJV) A senseless man does not know, Nor does a fool understand this.
(Proverbs 12:15 NKJV) The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
(Proverbs 14:16 NKJV) A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident.
Killing / Stealing
I am talking about those things such as killing, stealing, sexual immorality, and the likes, you are
justified in not submitting to his plan. Well then how do you justify Sarah lying, how do you
reason that out? Let me show you something
Sarah followed Abraham out of Ur / Trust your are hearing From God
Look at the big picture, Sarah was new believer herself, she is following her husband. I'm
following you she probably said, you said God told you to leave Ur, so I followed, you took us to
Egypt, so I followed, You said say I'm your sister, so I did. I am trusting that you are hearing from
this God that called you out of our land, away from our idol worshipping, I'm submitting to your
hearing from Him.
Abraham Failed Teaching Her the Word
Ephesians 5:26, it is the husbands responsible to wash his wife with the Word of God. It was
Abraham's responsibility to teach his wife the ways of the Lord, and he didn't. His not teaching
left her vulnerable. Sarah failed because her husband failed her, he failed teaching her the Word,
he failed to apply the Word to their lives:
(Ephesians 5:25 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
(Ephesians 5:26 NKJV) that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
(Ephesians 5:27 NKJV) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such
thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
Husband How are your Doing Teaching Her
So husband, how are you doing today, how are you doing in the area of teaching your wife the
Word. If you are going to teach her, then you have to know it, you have to be hearing from Him.
Look at the rest of 1 Peter 3, as it applies to husbands:
(1 Peter 3:7 NKJV) Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker
vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
(1 Peter 3:8 NKJV) Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be
tenderhearted, be courteous;
I always ask the question, Husband how would you like to submit to you? Are you a worthy
leader? Are you washing your bride with the Word, are you preparing her as a spotless bride?
Single Woman / Wait for a Leader
Here is my counsel always to the single ladies: If he will not Lead, then stay single. Save yourself
the heartache, your spouse and children the pain. Single ladies don't marry a jerk just because
you don't want to be single. Wait for a leader. There are no perfect men out there, but ask
yourself this, if he was to never change from how he is now, could you live with that for the rest of
your life. If not, break it off.
Married Woman / What if Wrong
Married woman, you say what if I submit and he blows it, what if he is wrong, what if he totally
blows it for us. God will deal with him. Abraham doesn't walk away from this scot-free; on the
contrary, he pays greatly for this lapse of faith. Genesis 16:1, one of the maidservants he brings
out of Egypt with him, was Hagar, who at the prompting of Sarah, he will bear a son (Ishmael).
Abraham will have to send Ishmael away with Hagar because of Sarah's bitterness towards her,
and this will pain Abraham greatly. But more so, Ishmael will be the father of the Arab people
today who are trying to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.
God will use Abraham's failures to sure Abraham his ways don't work, and we will see Abraham
reach the point of faith that he would trust to sacrifice his son Isaac, and know that God will
deliver him.
Single Men
Single men, the same for you, if she will not submit, then stay single.
Wives the Consquences
Wives, there is a consequence if you refuse to submit: Wives if you won't submit, you rule your
husband out of ministry:
(1 Timothy 3:2 NKJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good
behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
(1 Timothy 3:3 NKJV) not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
(1 Timothy 3:4 NKJV) one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
(1 Timothy 3:5 NKJV) (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of
God?);
Wife Shouldn’t be in Ministry
Also if you won't submit at the home, then you shouldn't be in the ministry yourself, for submitting
to your husband is submitting to the Lord. In order to minister unto the Lord, you must first submit
to the Lord. It all starts in the home. If submission doesn't work in the home, it won't work in the
ministry either. If you can't raise your kids in God's way, then how can you raise God's kids. If it
doesn't work at home, then it just doesn't work.
Men Must Lead in Home / Moses’ Failure in the Home
Men you must take care of your spiritual duties in the home before you can lead in the church.
Remember the story of Moses? Moses is getting ready to be killed by God; his wife sees it and
knows immediately what is happening, she grabs the oldest son, takes the rock and circumcises
him. She says my husband is a husband of blood:
(Exodus 4:24 NKJV) And it came to pass on the way, at the encampment, that the LORD met him and sought to kill him.
(Exodus 4:25 NKJV) Then Zipporah took a sharp stone and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it at Moses' feet, and
said, "Surely you are a husband of blood to me!"
(Exodus 4:26 NKJV) So He let him go. Then she said, "You are a husband of blood!"; because of the circumcision.
God called Moses to a very specific ministry, but Moses didn't take time to do what he was
supposed to do in his own house. His son should have been circumcised! Moses neglected his
own son. Moses was going to call God's people to risk their lives in dependence on the God of
the covenant, but he had thought so little of the covenant he didn't even circumcise his own son.
God is serious about His Word folks.:
(Genesis 17:10 NKJV) "This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you:
Every male child among you shall be circumcised;
(Genesis 17:11 NKJV) "and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it shall be a sign of the covenant
between Me and you.
Imagine (excuse me please), but imagine it is at the rest stop out of Egypt, and someone sees
that Moses son isn't circumcised. How then would they have looked upon their leader. They
would have questioned, if he can't lead his family, how is he going to lead 3 million of us out of
Egypt into the Promised Land.
Wife - Another Point
Wife there is another story here, if your husband won't bring the things of the Lord into the house,
then it is ok for you to do it, like Moses wife Zipporah did. You can bring devotions, prayer time,
Bible reading, going to church into your family, it shouldn't have to be that way, but if your
husband won't do it, then you can do it. Now be careful that you do it with discretion, gentleness,
not in-your-face, not lets start a war, but livingly and gracefully. Introduce the things of the lord a
here a little, there a little, not one big family overall for it could cause the husband to feel
threatened about his position in the family. Do it gracefully.
Moses should have done it, and he didn't, and notice that it caused bitterness in Zipporah. Gang
it has to be right in the house. It has to be right in the house, it has got to be real in the home.
Failures In Faith
Does this sound like a man of tremendous faith in God? Remember! He's the father of all who
believe. Let's recognize the fact that Abraham didn't have this great faith all at once. It was
something that grew.
Don't be disappointed if you don't have all this "great faith" the moment you begin your walk with
the Lord. Our expectations of ourselves are many times unrealistic in spiritual development and
growth. I am so accustomed to "instant" things. Living in this revved up society everything is
instant. I want instant faith! I want to be an instant giant! I want God to give me some kind of an
inoculation of faith and Shazam! I've got super-faith. We think if we only had the faith of Abraham,
but that faith was something that developed over a process of time as he discovered the
faithfulness of God. It was through fellowship with God and knowing God, faith developed; as
your faith also will develop through fellowship with God. The Bible says to grow in faith and in the
knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The growth of your faith corresponds with the
growth of your knowledge of God. The more you know Him, the more you will trust Him and the
more your faith will increase. There were many failures in this man's life of faith, but God still used
him. God shows us the weaknesses as well as the triumphs of Abraham. Your faith is not perfect
yet, but it should be growing as you walk with God and experience His faithfulness.
So, God was faithful, but Abraham wasn't. He turned Sarai over to the Pharaoh, but God
intervened and plagued the house of Pharaoh. An interesting insight is that the Bible doesn't
have to tell us of this failure of Abraham, because, when we read the New Testament, in
Hebrews, Hall of Faith, it only speaks of his triumphs of faith and not of his failures. When God
finally writes the records of your faith, He will record only your triumphs. All your failures of faith
will be buried. With Abraham, the Word of God lasting forever, his failures will never be buried;
but, God has buried your failures. God accounts us righteous in and through Jesus Christ. Our
believing and trusting in Jesus, is counted to us for righteousness. Even as God accounted
Abraham's faith for righteousness so does He account our faith for righteousness. Even though
Abraham's faith was not perfect and ours is not yet perfected, when God makes His final
accounting; He reckons that faithfulness to His promise and His work and blots out our sin and
our failure. If you think that this is a license to live a shabby life, it's not. It's for that earnest
struggling soul that's being condemned by the enemy for their failures and for their weaknesses.
It's a word of encouragement for that person who is being beaten down by the enemy that God is
faithful and will bless you because He is a gracious, loving, compassionate God. The blessings of
God are a result of the grace of God and not a reward for your goodness.
Genesis 12:5-8
O’ Jerusalem – The Cup of Trembling
(Genesis 12:5 NKJV) Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all
their possessions that they had gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in
Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they came to the land of Canaan.
(Genesis 12:6 NKJV) Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as
the terebinth tree of Moreh. And the Canaanites were then in the land.
(Genesis 12:7 NKJV) Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I
will give this land." And there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
(Genesis 12:8 NKJV) And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he
pitched his tent with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the
LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
Eyes of the World / Eyes of the Lord
The eyes of the whole world are upon the land of Israel, pick-up the newspaper and you will see
and hear about this land daily. Why? Because the eyes of the Lord are upon this land (as we’ll
see), the land is God’s (as we’ll see), and it is God’s prophetic end-times timepiece (as we’ll see).
It’s a Dot
The whole world has their eyes upon a land that is little more than a dot on the map:
There are only 6 million Jewish people in Israel, compared to 300,000 million Americans. Israel
population is about the same as the Greater Baltimore Metropolitan.
• Israel is only 250 miles long and 75 miles wide
• Israel is 8,020 sq. miles
• New Jersey is 7,787 sq. miles
• Maryland is 10,500 sq. miles
• Texas is 266,807 sq. miles
• Look at the map and compare it to the rest of the Arab nations in the Mid-East like Saudi
Arabia, Iran, Iran, Jordan, and Syria; it is a dot.
Unlike Texas, or any of the Arab nations, there is not a drop of oil to be found.
Study Outline
We will look at the land of Israel from three aspects:
• Scripturally – What the Bible says about the Land
• Historically – The 4,000 year history of the Land
• Spiritually – The spiritual aspect of the Land
• Anti-Semitism / Muslim Faith
• End Times
Caveat
Being Bible-believing Christians in no way requires us to support every secular policy of Israel's
government, but simultaneously compels us to stand firmly against both anti-Semitism and racial
or ethnic prejudice against Arabs (many of whom are Christian), and to desire peace, dignity and
self-determination for all Middle Eastern peoples. Moreover, our Biblical faith requires us to
support the existence of Israel as an independent democratic nation, to recognize that the land of
Israel belongs eternally to the Jews by divine covenant, and to recognize that all Jews are God's
chosen people, destined to receive the blessings of His promises.
Scripturally – What the Bible says about the Land
God Owns it All
All Land belongs to God, and the people too, and He can give that land to whomever he choses
because first He is God, and secondly all of the land is His to give:
(Exodus 19:5 NKJV) 'Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special
treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.
(Psalms 24:1 NKJV) The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.
(1 Corinthians 10:26 NKJV) for "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness."
God Chooses Israel / Jerusalem Specifically
Out of all the earth, God chose Israel specifically for Himself (He has the power and authority to
do so because all of it is His), and He narrows it down specifically to Jerusalem. God’s eyes are
on Israel forever, and that is where His heart is. He said these things 3,000 ago:
(2 Chronicles 6:5 NKJV) 'Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I have chosen no city from any
tribe of Israel in which to build a house, that My name might be there, nor did I choose any man to be a ruler over My
people Israel.
(2 Chronicles 6:6 NKJV) 'Yet I have chosen Jerusalem, that My name may be there; and I have chosen David to be over
My people Israel.'
(2 Chronicles 7:12 NKJV) Then the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and
have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.
(2 Chronicles 7:13 NKJV) "When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or
send pestilence among My people,
(2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV) "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face,
and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
(2 Chronicles 7:15 NKJV) "Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
(2 Chronicles 7:16 NKJV) "For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My
eyes and My heart will be there perpetually.
The Cup of Trembling
God says He will use the Land as a “Cup of Trembling” to all nations.
(Zechariah 12:1 KJV) The burden of the word of the LORD for Israel, saith the LORD, which stretcheth forth the heavens,
and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him.
(Zechariah 12:2 KJV) Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they
shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
(Zechariah 12:3 KJV) And in that day will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people: all that burden
themselves with it shall be cut in pieces, though all the people of the earth be gathered together against it.
(Zechariah 12:4 KJV) In that day, saith the LORD, I will smite every horse with astonishment, and his rider with madness:
and I will open mine eyes upon the house of Judah, and will smite every horse of the people with blindness.
(Zechariah 12:5 KJV) And the governors of Judah shall say in their heart, The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall be my
strength in the LORD of hosts their God.
(Zechariah 12:6 KJV) In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a
torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem
shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.
(Zechariah 12:7 KJV) The LORD also shall save the tents of Judah first, that the glory of the house of David and the glory
of the inhabitants of Jerusalem do not magnify themselves against Judah.
(Zechariah 12:8 KJV) In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them
at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.
(Zechariah 12:9 KJV) And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against
Jerusalem.
This was written 2,500 years ago, but notice that throughout the passage it says, “in that day’.
What day is that referring to, it is referring to the Last Days, when Messiah will return – Jesus.
Here God is saying He will use Israel in the days preceding His return, before His Second
Coming.
When Zechariah wrote this, 2,500 years ago, Israel was barren, yet God says keep your eye on
Jerusalem. People would have had ot laugh when they read this, saying keep your eye on a
wasteland that is barren, (50 years ago – with no oil). But 2,500 years later the whole world is
watching. The name Zechariah means “God Remembers”. God never forget Jerusalem, and
today the whole world watched on, looking at Israel and Jerusalem.
Who Did God Give the Land To
Whose land is it, it is God’s and He can give it to whomever He pleases. This special dot the size
of New Jersey, this place that is special to the Jew, the Muslim, and the Christian. Specifically
Jerusalem, for to the Muslim it is the third most holy site behind Mecca and Medina. The Muslim
believes at the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem is where Muhammad ascended into heaven, and
the Dome of the rock was the spot where Abraham offered Ishmael (not Isaac).
Who Did God Give it To? / 8 Covenants
But who did God give the Land to 4,000 years ago? He gave it to, Abraham; right here in
Genesis 12. So quickly lets recap the 8 specific Covenants we see in the Scriptures:
Definition of Covenant
"a sovereign proclamation of God, from the lips of God, that puts Him in a relationship of
responsibility with a man, a family, a nation, and/or the world. It is a proclamation of God saying
this is what I am going to do.
Sometimes these covenants are:
• Conditional
• Unconditional
• Perpetual (Forever)
• Expire.
Edenic Covenant: (Genesis 2:16-17). God declares to Adam and Eve, all of this is for you to
enjoy, but if you eat of the tree of Knowledge and Evil, you shall surely die. This one is perpetual
for we see man dying everyday as the result of the world being plunged into sin.
Adamic Covenant: (Genesis 3:14-19). Here is the result of the fall, the curse. Satan you shall
slither on your belly, woman you shall suffer pain in childbirth, man you shall till the land in sweat.
But there is hope, for a Savior will come through the Seed of the woman who will crush satan's
head, but only after satan bruises His heal on the cross. This one is perpetual, woman still suffer
in birthing, and man still sweats in the field. The Savior has come for sin, but next times He
comes for His kids.
Noahic Covenant: (Genesis 8:21-9:17). Included the Diet (The Foods given to Eat); Discipline -
(Punishment for Murder); and the Declaration (God will never flood the world again). It is a
perpetual covenant.
Abrahamic Covenant: (Genesis 12,15,17). God telling Abraham I am going to bless you, and the
nations will be blessed through you. For through the line of Abraham the Savior will come, and all
who will receive Him will be free form sin and death. It is a perpetual covenant for the Love of the
Lamb is available to all who will receive, every tribe, nation, and tongue. God also is going to
give Abraham a land that will be his forever.
Mosaic Covenant: (Exodus 19, 24, 34). Better known as "The Law". This is a conditional
covenant for it is based on; if you will do this you will be blessed, if you will that, then you will be
cursed. It is an if/then covenant. If you do right then you will be blessed, if you do wrong, then
you will be cursed. This covenant is not perpetual for it was superceded by the New Covenant.
Palestinian Covenant: (Duet 30). This covenant deals with the land of Israel. It states that the
land of Israel will be the Jews forever and ever. It is perpetual, forever and ever, regardless of
what Yassar Arraft thinks or says, regardless of what the United Nations or the United States
says, it is the Jewish peoples forever and ever.
David Covenant: (2 Sam. 7:12; 22:51) From King David's seed would come a ruler who would
reign on the throne forever - King Jesus. This one of course is perpetual, forever and ever. This
covenant agreement reached its highest fulfillment when Jesus the Messiah, a descendant of the
line of David, was born in Bethlehem about a thousand years after God made this promise to
David the king (Matt. 1:1; 2:4–6; Luke 1:29–33).
New Covenant: (Jeremiah 31:31-34 see also Heb 8:3). God says I will write my will on the
tablets of your heart. Jesus would say His blood is the blood of the New Covenant (Matt 26:27-
28). It is no longer and external covenant, but an internal covenant. It is Christ in you, the hope
of Glory (Col 1:27). It is God Himself taking up residence in your body to lead you and empower
you for your walk with Him.
God gives the Land to Abraham
God gives Abraham the Land of Israel:
(Genesis 12:5 NKJV) Then Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his brother's son, and all their possessions that they had
gathered, and the people whom they had acquired in Haran, and they departed to go to the land of Canaan. So they
came to the land of Canaan.
(Genesis 12:6 NKJV) Abram passed through the land to the place of Shechem, as far as the terebinth tree of Moreh. And
the Canaanites were then in the land.
(Genesis 12:7 NKJV) Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." And
there he built an altar to the LORD, who had appeared to him.
(Genesis 12:8 NKJV) And he moved from there to the mountain east of Bethel, and he pitched his tent with Bethel on the
west and Ai on the east; there he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD.
Given Forever
God adds to the giving of the land – He says it is yours forever:
(Genesis 13:14 NKJV) And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from
the place where you are; northward, southward, eastward, and westward;
(Genesis 13:15 NKJV) "for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.
(Genesis 13:16 NKJV) "And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust
of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
Shows the Boundaries
God shows Abraham how large the given land is:
(Genesis 15:1 NKJV) After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not be afraid,
Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."………………………….
(Genesis 15:18 NKJV) On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying: "To your descendants I have
given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the River Euphrates;
Passes to Isaac – Not Ishmael
It is passed to Abraham’s son Isaac (not Ishmael as the Muslim will claim).
(Genesis 26:1 NKJV) There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And
Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar.
(Genesis 26:2 NKJV) Then the LORD appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I
shall tell you.
(Genesis 26:3 NKJV) "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give
all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
(Genesis 26:4 NKJV) "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants
all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;
(Genesis 26:5 NKJV) "because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and
My laws."
Passes to Jacob
From Abraham, to Isaac, then to Jacob the Land will always be Israel. God changes Jacob’s
name to Israel (Gen 32:28)
(Genesis 28:10 NKJV) Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran.
(Genesis 28:11 NKJV) So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took
one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep.
(Genesis 28:12 NKJV) Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven;
and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
(Genesis 28:13 NKJV) And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and
the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.
(Genesis 28:14 NKJV) "Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and
the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
(Genesis 28:15 NKJV) "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this
land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."
Not because of Israel’s Righteousness
God is not giving the Land to Israel because they are righteousness, but because of the witness
of His Word:
(Deuteronomy 9:1 NKJV) "Hear, O Israel: You are to cross over the Jordan today, and go in to dispossess nations
greater and mightier than yourself, cities great and fortified up to heaven,
(Deuteronomy 9:2 NKJV) "a people great and tall, the descendants of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you
heard it said, 'Who can stand before the descendants of Anak?'
(Deuteronomy 9:3 NKJV) "Therefore understand today that the LORD your God is He who goes over before you as a
consuming fire. He will destroy them and bring them down before you; so you shall drive them out and destroy them
quickly, as the LORD has said to you.
(Deuteronomy 9:4 NKJV) "Do not think in your heart, after the LORD your God has cast them out before you, saying,
'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land'; but it is because of the wickedness of
these nations that the LORD is driving them out from before you.
(Deuteronomy 9:5 NKJV) "It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to
possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD your God drives them out from before
you, and that He may fulfill the word which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
(Deuteronomy 9:6 NKJV) "Therefore understand that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to
possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.
3 Reason Israel the Chosen
God say’s to Israel don’t get puffed up. Why is the nation Israel a chosen nation, why are they a
chosen people? It is important to know and understand, so we can piece together our Old
Testament history leading up to Jesus Christ, and so we can understand why things are as they
are in the Middle East and world today.
3 Reasons:
1. To be a Witness of God’s Ways.
2. A Keeper of God’s Word
3. A Channel of God’s Wonder
1.) To be a Witness of God’s Way
God glorifies Himself through Israel. The world may be confused and in chaos, but God wants
the world to see Him clearly:
(Isaiah 44:23 NKJV) Sing, O heavens, for the LORD has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; Break forth into
singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel.
The Jewish nation was to be a light unto the world. The Jews were to show the world what it was
like to have God as the Leader of their nation. Israel was to make the whole world crave to follow
the God of the nation Israel (remember Rahab).
(Isaiah 49:6 NKJV) Indeed He says, 'It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob,
And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation
to the ends of the earth.'"
(Psalms 33:12 NKJV) Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.
Unfortunately, turned it from being a missionary/witnessing calling to the world, to a self-righteous
chosen election. It reached the point that the Jewish people believed that all that a Gentile
(anyone not a Jew) was good for was to fuel the fire of Hell. They would walk down the street
and when they saw a Gentile yell, unclean, unclean, and cross over to the other side. If their
clothing brushed against a Gentile they would go home and bathe, and burn their clothing. Sadly,
we can see some of that same mentality in the church today, a loss of love for those who are
perishing, refusing to get dirty to snatch them from hell.
2.) A Keeper of God’s Word
We all should be deeply grateful to the Jewish people, for they were meticulous in maintaining the
purity of Gods Word, and we are blessed and benefit greatly form it today:
(Romans 3:1 NKJV) What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision?
(Romans 3:2 NKJV) Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.
3.) A Channel of God’s Wonder
Through the Jewish nation, specifically Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob would come the Messiah.
The promised Seed of Genesis 3:15:
(Genesis 12:3 NKJV) I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of
the earth shall be blessed."
Israel’s Witness / Dispersed / God’s Word
Israel is a witness to the whole world. The whole world looks on and says how do they survive.
How could a nation survive, even when they didn’t have a homeland. For 2,000 years Israel kept
their national identity, without a homeland, without a capital city. The fact that Israel exist today is
a witness to God’s Word. God said they would be dispersed, God said they would be without a
homeland, but God said even when you are out of the land, it’s still your land, and it will be
waiting for you when I bring you back.
Palestinian Covenant
The Palestinian Covenant: (Duet 30). This covenant deals with the land of Israel. It states that
the land of Israel will be the Jews forever and ever. It is perpetual, forever and ever,:
(Deuteronomy 30:1 NKJV) "Now it shall come to pass, when all these things come upon you, the blessing and the curse
which I have set before you, and you call them to mind among all the nations where the LORD your God drives you,
(Deuteronomy 30:2 NKJV) "and you return to the LORD your God and obey His voice, according to all that I command
you today, you and your children, with all your heart and with all your soul,
(Deuteronomy 30:3 NKJV) "that the LORD your God will bring you back from captivity, and have compassion on you, and
gather you again from all the nations where the LORD your God has scattered you.
(Deuteronomy 30:4 NKJV) "If any of you are driven out to the farthest parts under heaven, from there the LORD your God
will gather you, and from there He will bring you.
(Deuteronomy 30:5 NKJV) "Then the LORD your God will bring you to the land which your fathers possessed, and
you shall possess it. He will prosper you and multiply you more than your fathers.
The David Covenant: (2 Sam. 7:10-12; 22:51). Even the Davidic Covenant included that the land
was theirs, and that the Messiah would come through King David.
(2 Samuel 7:10 NKJV) "Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may
dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as
previously,
(2 Samuel 7:11 NKJV) "since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel, and have caused you to rest
from all your enemies. Also the LORD tells you that He will make you a house.
(2 Samuel 7:12 NKJV) "When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who
will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom.
Brief History
Abraham inherits the land and lives in it, it passes to Isaac and then Jacob. They go into
bondage in Egypt for 400 years, come back to the land led by Moses and then Joshua. They
have judges, then King Saul, David, and Solomon. The kingdom gets divided, they reject the
warnings of the prophets, live in disobedience, then are taken captives by the Babylonians under
Nebuchadnezzar. So for 70 years they are in captivity, but then return, and the land is still theirs,
just as the Palestinian Covenant said it would.
God used the Babylonian kingdom for His purposes of disciplining Israel. God lets other nations
control the land in order to work His will for Israel and His Witness to the world.
(Jeremiah 27:4 NKJV) 'And command them to say to their masters, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel;
thus you shall say to your masters:
(Jeremiah 27:5 NKJV) 'I have made the earth, the man and the beast that are on the ground, by My great power and by
My outstretched arm, and have given it to whom it seemed proper to Me.
(Jeremiah 27:6 NKJV) 'And now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My
servant; and the beasts of the field I have also given him to serve him.
(Jeremiah 27:7 NKJV) 'So all nations shall serve him and his son and his son's son, until the time of his land comes; and
then many nations and great kings shall make him serve them.
(Jeremiah 27:8 NKJV) 'And it shall be, that the nation and kingdom which will not serve Nebuchadnezzar the king of
Babylon, and which will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, that nation I will punish,' says the LORD,
'with the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, until I have consumed them by his hand.
Starting with Babylon / 2000 Years under someone’s Yoke
It is from that time, from the time of Babylonian Kingdom, Israel will dwell in the Land, but they will
never posses it. It will always be in someone else’s ownership, someone else’s yoke and
bondage. Again, no nation has ever survived 2,000 years without a homeland that they
controlled, but Israel did, and it can only be attributed to God.
Nation Born in a Day
After 2,000 years, after millions of Jews being killed. 1 million by Titus in 70AD, and 6 million by
Hitler in WW2, the most amazing Scripture is fulfilled:
(Isaiah 66:1 NKJV) Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, And earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you
will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?
(Isaiah 66:2 NKJV) For all those things My hand has made, And all those things exist," Says the LORD. "But on this one
will I look: On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, And who trembles at My word.
(Isaiah 66:3 NKJV) "He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man; He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog's neck; He
who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine's blood; He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol. Just as they have
chosen their own ways, And their soul delights in their abominations,
(Isaiah 66:4 NKJV) So will I choose their delusions, And bring their fears on them; Because, when I called, no one
answered, When I spoke they did not hear; But they did evil before My eyes, And chose that in which I do not delight."
(Isaiah 66:5 NKJV) Hear the word of the LORD, You who tremble at His word: "Your brethren who hated you, Who cast
you out for My name's sake, said, 'Let the LORD be glorified, That we may see your joy.' But they shall be ashamed."
(Isaiah 66:6 NKJV) The sound of noise from the city! A voice from the temple! The voice of the LORD, Who fully repays
His enemies!
(Isaiah 66:7 NKJV) "Before she was in labor, she gave birth; Before her pain came, She delivered a male child.
(Isaiah 66:8 NKJV) Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such things? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one
day? Or shall a nation be born at once? For as soon as Zion was in labor, She gave birth to her children.
(Isaiah 66:9 NKJV) Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?" says the LORD. "Shall I who cause delivery
shut up the womb?" says your God.
(Isaiah 66:10 NKJV) "Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you
who mourn for her;
(Isaiah 66:11 NKJV) That you may feed and be satisfied With the consolation of her bosom, That you may drink deeply
and be delighted With the abundance of her glory."
May 14, 1948
May 14, 1948, in one day, the nation Israel was recognized as a State, as a Nation. Exactly what
God had said in Isaiah 700 hundred years before. No nation has ever been born in a day,
especially after all the persecution and attempts to wipe them off the face of the earth. Israel truly
is a witness of God’s wonder and His Word. He proof the Israel exists, should be proof that God
exists.
Dry Bones / The Regathering
If that wasn’t enough, in Ezekial 37 we read the prophecy of “Dry Bones” coming to life; it is a
picture of God regathering the children of Israel from all over the world back into Israel. It is the
predecessor of Russian invasion that will happen in the end times (more on that in part 3).
Amazingly, but 10’s of thousand Jews immigrate from around the world every year to move to
Israel. We truly are living in the Last Days:
(Ezekiel 37:21 NKJV) "Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among
the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
(Ezekiel 37:22 NKJV) "and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king
over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again.
The Fig Tree has Blossomed
Just as all these Scriptures have come to pass and remain true, there is one that we all must grab
hold off and live for:
(Matthew 24:32 NKJV) "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts
forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
(Matthew 24:33 NKJV) "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near; at the doors!
(Matthew 24:34 NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take
place.
(Matthew 24:35 NKJV) "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
(Matthew 24:36 NKJV) "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
(Matthew 24:37 NKJV) "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
We are the generation that has seen the fig tree blossom, and therefore the return of Christ is
near. As I say if He doesn’t come today, then He is coming tomorrow. Ask me tomorrow and I’ll
tell you the same thing.
Fulfilled the Messiah Promise
Just as the Lord has fulfilled everything concerning the Land and the People, He has fulfilled
everything concerning the Person – the Messiah Jesus Christ who came to be the Lamb of God
who would take away the sins of the world.:
(Isaiah 9:6 NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And
His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:7 NKJV) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over
His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the
LORD of hosts will perform this.
Historically – The 4,000 year History of the Land
Abraham / Issac / Jacob / Famine to Egypt / Slavery
The history of ancient Israel is available for all to read in the Bible and secular history, and rightly
begins with Abraham's call by the one true and living Creator-God to leave his ancestral home in
the Tigris-Euphrates Valley and follow the Fertile Crescent in a counter-clockwise arch until he
arrived in what is now Israel - a beautiful and fertile land that was at that time unsettled and
occupied only by occasional wandering nomadic tribes of herdsmen. There, God told him to
mount a hill and look about him in all directions, promising to give him and his descendants the
land forever. The promise to Abraham was renewed to his son Isaac, and later to his son Jacob,
whose name God changed to Israel, then to Jacob's twelve sons and their descendants. The
twelve sons of Jacob are, of course, the patriarchs of the tribes of Israel, and their physical
descendants are the Jews. God reiterated on several occasions throughout the Old Testament
that His promise of that particular locality was eternal. Because of a severe famine, Jacob, his
sons, and their families migrated to Egypt where they were nourished and fed for several
centuries under a series of friendly Pharaohs until a cruel king ascended to the throne who
enslaved the Jews and subjected them to brutal task-masters.
Moses / Joshua / Judges / Kings
Moses, born of devout Jewish parents but raised in the courts and learning of ancient Egypt, was
expelled from the land after intervening physically on behalf of his countrymen, spent the next 40
years as a shepherd in the desert, then returned to lead the children of Israel out of their bondage
by the miraculous hand of God. Although Moses died in the wilderness, the Jews, now several
million in number, reclaimed their God-given land under the leadership of Joshua, a land that had
in the meantime been occupied by violent and debaucherous city-states and tribes. For several
centuries, the 12 tribes of Israel were governed rather informally by a series of judges including
Samuel, Deborah, Gideon, and Samson. About a millennium before the birth of Christ and about
a millennium after the time of Abraham, the people of Israel demanded a king like the pagan
nations around them and wound up with King Saul, whose rule was oppressive and at times
disobedient to God. Saul in turn was replaced by David, the sweet psalmist, the shepherd king of
Israel, and the author of many of the Psalms in the Bible. David was a man after God's own heart,
and God again reiterated the promise of the land to him and his descendants, and additionally
promised that the ultimate deliverer and redeemer, the King of all kings, the divine ruler of all
creation, the Messiah, who would usher in everlasting peace and prosperity, would be one of
David's descendants.
Solomon / Kingdom Splits / Babylon - Nebuchadnezzar
After the death of David, his son Solomon continued and expanded the empire, making Israel the
wealthiest and most powerful kingdom on earth until his death, after which a civil war ripped the
nation in two - Israel to the north with its capital city of Samaria, and Judah to the south with its
capital city of Jerusalem. The northern kingdom had no godly kings although some were worse
than others were, while the southern kingdom had a mixture of good and bad rulers. In 721 BC,
the Assyrians destroyed the northern kingdom of Israel, but were unable to take Judah or
Jerusalem. They in turn were conquered by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar, who
successfully conquered Judah and destroyed Solomon's temple and Jerusalem in 586 BC.
70 Years / Medo-Persians / Rebuild the Walls / Grecian / Roman
Seventy years later, Babylon in the meantime having been itself conquered by the Medo-Persians
under Cyrus the Great, the Jews repatriated their homeland and reconstructed the temple in
Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Zerubbabel. At this point, it should be
emphasized that the Jews have maintained a continual presence in the land of Israel from the
time of Joshua's conquest until the present. Even under foreign rule and occupation, even during
the times of exile, some Jews were left in the land, and Jewish settlements continued. Medo-
Persia was later conquered by Alexander the Great (330BC) and Israel became a part of the
Greek empire, which in turn was conquered by Julius Caesar, making Israel a part of the massive
Roman Empire. It was into a Roman-occupied Israel that Jesus was born 2,000 years ago.
Days of Jesus / 70AD – Titus / 1 million Killed
Many Christians mistakenly believe that Jesus cursed His fellow Jews because they rejected
Him, and that therefore Israel no longer has a place in God's plan. The promise of God to the
physical descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob called Israel, however, was an eternal
promise, the basis of an everlasting covenant, the promises of which will yet be fulfilled. Jesus
wept over the unbelief of Israel and prophesied of the destruction of Jerusalem, but nowhere ever
implied any rejection of His own countrymen as a whole. In 70 AD, Titus led the infamous 10th
Roman legion on an invasion of Israel and utterly destroyed Jerusalem just as Jesus had
predicted. Over a million Jews were slaughtered, Jewish blood flowed like rivers through the
streets of the Holy City, and the Romans changed the name of the country to Palestine - an anti-
Semitic slur taken from the Philistines, who were a primary enemy of the Jews in ancient times.
Resistance fighters held out for three more years until the last of them were destroyed at Masada
in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Many of the remaining Jews were deported to various
nations in the Roman Empire; nevertheless, Jewish settlements continued in the land, albeit in a
minority.
Emperor Hadrian / Phillistine – Palestine / 313AD
In 132 AD, the Jews revolted against Roman occupation under the leadership of Simeon Bar
Kochba - an uprising that was crushed by the emperor Hadrian, who subsequently rebuilt
Jerusalem as a pagan city, forbade the Jews from entering it, outlawed the practice of the Jewish
religion, renamed the area of Judah "Syria Palaestina", and settled gentiles in the area.
Consequently, more Jews left Israel and the principle Jewish settlements in Israel moved to the
region of Galilee in the northern part of the country. In 313 AD, Constantine issued an edict of
toleration that officially allowed the practice of hitherto forbidden Christianity, which was later
adopted as the state religion of Rome, and Israel and the Jews were subjected to the rule of a
series of Byzantine emperors. It was during this Byzantine period when the Mishna and the
Jerusalem Talmud, two primary Old Testament Jewish commentaries, were written.
Islam & Muslims
In 620AD, Mohammed is a nomad. He like many others is wondering who should he worship. In
Mecca there in a temple were 360 gods you could chose from. He picks 1, and that one
represented Allah, and he said this is god. Now Islam already existed, but Mohammed starts a
movement. He closely mirrors Judaism, desiring that Jews would follow his religion. Instead of
temple he has mosque, instead of fasting he has ramahdan, instead of Abraham and Isaac he
has Abraham and Ishmael, and it was Ishmael to be sacrificed not Isaac. He pens the Koran,
their holy book, which by the way doesn’t mention the word Jerusalem or love in it. The Jews
won't follow, and so an all out war begins. Here are some excerpts from the Koran:
Do Not take the Jew or Christian a Friend
5.51: O you who believe! do not take the Jews and the Christians for friends; they are friends of each other; and whoever
amongst you takes them for a friend, then surely he is one of them; surely Allah does not guide the unjust people.
Fight against the Friends of Satan - till death if need-be
[4.74]
Therefore let those fight in the way of Allah,
who sell this world's life for the hereafter;
and whoever fights in the way of Allah,
then be he slain or be he victorious,
We shall grant him a mighty reward.
[4.75]
And what reason have you that you should not fight in the way of Allah and of the weak among the men and the women
and the children,
(of) those who say:
Our Lord!
cause us to go forth from this town,
whose people are oppressors,
and give us from Thee a guardian and give us from Thee a helper.
[4.76]
Those who believe fight in the way of Allah,
and those who disbelieve fight in the way of the Shaitan.
Fight therefore against the friends of the Shaitan;
surely the strategy of the Shaitan is weak.
Jews and Christian are the Most Violent of People
5.82: Certainly you will find the most violent of people in enmity for those who believe (to be) the Jews and those who are
polytheists, and you will certainly find the nearest in friendship to those who believe (to be) those who say: We are
Christians; this is because there are priests and monks among them and because they do not behave proudly.
May Allah destroy the Jews and Christians
9.30: And the Jews say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the Christians say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the
words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; may Allah destroy them; how they are
turned away!
Rome Falls / Islam Rises
In the seventh century, after the fall of Rome, the Arabs established an empire extending from
Persia (modern Iran) to the Atlantic Ocean and built only one city in Israel - Ramle, their
administrative capital for the area. Although the Islamic regime was tolerant at first to both
Christians and Jews, it later subjected both groups to harsh restrictions, and as a result, many
Jews left the villages and countryside and resettled in cities, including Jerusalem, which replaced
Tiberius as the center of learning and Jewish culture.
Crusader Period / Then Back to Muslim Army
In 1066, the Crusaders from institutionalized "Christian" Europe invaded the Holy Land to
"liberate" the sites they considered sacred to Christianity from Moslem rule, captured Jerusalem
and slaughtered most of the Jews and Moslems they found. As the crusaders marched across
the European continent, they systematically murdered and pillaged Jewish settlements along the
way, which, parenthetically, is why even today many Jews are reluctant to accept the witness of
Christians. In the following century, Moslem armies led by Saladin recaptured Israel and
Jerusalem and forced the crusaders to retreat, thus ending their rule. Later in the 13th century,
the Mamelukes, a military caste of former slaves, rose to power in Egypt, advanced into and
conquered what was left of Israel from the remaining crusaders. The last crusader stronghold,
Acre, fell in 1291. Because Mameluke rule was centered in Egypt, Israel was mostly neglected
and Jewish communities continued relatively unmolested in the ancestral homeland.
Ottoman Empire – Turkey / 1900’s Immigration
In 1516 Israel was conquered by the Ottoman emperor Selim I, who later turned rule over to his
son Suleiman the Magnificent, who was tolerant towards Jews and Christians for the most part,
allowing Jews fleeing persecution in Spain, where the throne had ordered all of them expelled
from the country, to resettle in Israel, an immigration that revitalized the Jewish community in
Jerusalem. The Ottoman Empire slowly declined as Turkey grew politically weaker, and Bedouin
marauders took advantage of the lapses of security to prey on Jewish settlements. In the 18th
century, there was an influx of Jews from Eastern Europe and the Jewish population of Israel
doubled. Waves of "aliyah" (immigrants) swept into the land in 1882 and again in 1904 for the
specific purpose of building a Jewish national presence in the ancestral homeland. This was the
beginning of the Zionist movement - a series of immigrations by dispersed Jews back to Israel,
most for secular rather than religious reasons.
Ottoman Empire falls in WW1 / Great Britain Controls
After the defeat of Germany and the Ottoman Empire in World War I, Palestine fell under the
control of Great Britain. In 1917, after conquering Jerusalem without firing a shot, Lord Balfour
issued his famous "Balfour Declaration" which proclaimed Palestine as the a national home for
the Jewish people. The newly formed League of Nations, the precursor to the United Nations,
confirmed the British Mandate over the area, and Jewish immigration increased, resulting in the
foundation of numerous Jewish settlements and the establishment of modern Jewish cities such
as Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Arab leaders fomented anti-Jewish riots, which resulted in the British
limiting immigration of Jews into Israel.
Hitler / Nazi’s / WW2 / UN Enters
It was at that time that Hitler was pushing his way across Europe in pursuit of his two-fold goal -
world domination and Jewish extermination. Six million Jews, one out of every three, were
slaughtered under the terror of the Third Reich. Fleeing from Nazi Europe, many Jews attempted
to enter their ancestral homeland only to be turned back by the British, resulting in Jewish
resistance to the British occupation coupled with Arab terrorism against the Jews in Israel. In April
of 1947, the British relinquished their mandate of Palestine to the United Nations, which issued a
complex partition plan in November of that year, effectively dividing Israel into a Jewish and an
Arab state. The United Nations Partition Plan divided Palestine into six parts - three Jewish and
three Arab - linked at two crossing points, and Jerusalem was declared to be a separate enclave
under international control. Although the plan was accepted by the Jews in spite of the fact that it
left them with mostly uninhabitable desert, it was rejected by the Arabs, but passed into
international law anyway by a 33-10 vote (with 10 abstentions) in the UN General Assembly on
November 29, 1947.
A Nation in a Day / Next Day Invasion
The British began an unilateral pullout from Israel, and hostilities broke out immediately between
Arabs and Jews - hostilities that reached a crescendo on May 14, 1948, when the British
Mandate expired and the modern State of Israel was proclaimed. The next day, the armies of
Syria, Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq invaded Israel, and were miraculously held off by an ill-
equipped, poorly trained volunteer Israeli army, which used picks, shovels, hoes, hunting rifles
and homemade armored cars to repel the invaders. A series of armistice agreements were
signed between February and July of 1949, which gave Israel sovereign control of all of Galilee,
the coastal plain, the Negev, the Jerusalem corridor, and the Gaza strip. Jerusalem was divided
between Israel and Jordan. Most of the Arabs living in the areas assigned to Israel left and moved
into neighboring Arab countries, expecting to be absorbed into the populations by their Arab
brethren, but instead were interned in refugee camps in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt, and not
allowed to become citizens. Jordan then annexed almost all of the land allocated by the UN as an
Arab Palestinian state, and Egypt took control of the Gaza Strip along the southern
Mediterranean coast.
No Such thing as Palestinian
Remember back to Emperor Hadrian when he renamed the land Palestine, it is important to
recognize that there really is no such thing as a Palestinian. They are Arab people living in a land
that was renamed Palestine. Palestine was named after the Phillistines, and there are no
Phillistines alive today. The secular media and world leaders give them this name as to assign
ownership to the land, but the land is truly Israel and the Israeli people.
Arabs Won’t Absorb Them / Washington State
The surrounding Arab nations will not absorb into their land their fellow Arab brothers. The
reason being is that if they did that, then the tension in and against Israel would go away. The
Muslim nations know that if the Arabs in Israel could immigrate into their land, then there would
be peace against Israel, and they do not want that. An example of that would be if we had to give
the State of Washington to Canada. That state has about 6 million residents living there, the
same size of Israel. Now we recognize the people of Washington as Americans, and surely we
would absorb them into the rest of America; but the Arabs nations refuse to do that, even though
they are so-called brothers in the faith, because they want them to fight and kill the Israeli in order
to have a place to live.
Immigration to the Land
So, when Israel was established in 1948, Jews from Nazi-torn Europe immigrated in massive
numbers - 700,000 between 1948 and 1951. In 1949, the dictator of Yemen ordered the
expulsion of all Jews and the entire community moved to Israel; in 1950, 90% of the Jewish
community left Iraq and headed for Israel. Immigration from Europe was the primary source of
Jews moving to Israel until the 1970's, when Russia permitted its Jewish population to leave and
move there. Today there are still planes landing weekly with immigrants move back to Israel.
Homocide Bombers Begin / 1967 – 6day War / Expanded Borders
After the War of Independence, the neighboring Arab nations, Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan,
signed armistice agreements, but considered themselves to be at war anyway, sending terrorists
and suicide bombers across the borders regularly. In 1956, Egypt, equipped with the latest Soviet
weaponry, attacked Israel from the south, but Israel overran the Sinai Peninsula within a few
days, and then withdrew under pressure from the United States. Terrorist incursions continued
from Egypt, Jordan, and Syrian controlled Lebanon through the 1960's until May of 1967, when
Egypt and Jordan, invaded Israel intent on destroying it. The war lasted six days (June 5-10,
1967), and the Golan Heights, all of Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, the Western Wall of
Solomon's temple compound, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula were captured and held by
Israel. Jerusalem was annexed into Israel and the remaining areas were placed under military
administration.
1973 Yom Kipper War
The Soviet Union rearmed Syria and Egypt after the Six-Day War, and on Yom Kippur, the Great
Day of Atonement in the Feast of Tabernacles, on October 6, 1973, Israel was simultaneously
invaded from the north by Syria and the south by Egypt. After bitter fighting, the Israeli defense
forces drove back the invading forces and were within striking distance of both Damascus, the
capital of Syria, and of Cairo, the capital of Egypt. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger negotiated
a cease-fire, and Israel pulled back under pressure from the United States. On March 16, 1979, a
peace accord fashioned by President Carter was signed between Israel and Egypt at Camp
David, Maryland.
The Oslo Accord
The Oslo Accord signed by Rabin and Arafat in Washington on September 9, 1993 after being
negotiated in Oslo, Norway - an accord in which the Israeli government agreed to recognize the
PLO as a negotiating party for the Palestinians in exchange for the PLO's recognition of Israel,
and begin plans for placing portions of Judea and Samaria, otherwise known as the "West Bank"
of the Jordan River, under the control of a self-governing Palestinian group. In spite of continued
terrorist attacks by Hamas, Palestinians took control of Gaza and Jericho on May 4, 1994.
Spiritually – The Spiritual Aspect of the Land
1.) Anti-Semitism / Muslim Faith
The Palestinian Authority
The Muslim Palestinian Authority remains committed to anti-Semitism and to the destruction of
Israel. The Koran forbids any peace treaty with non-Moslems except for the purpose of deceiving
them into a false sense of security.
[9.4]
Except those of the idolaters with whom you made an agreement,
then they have not failed you in anything and have not backed up any one against you,
so fulfill their agreement to the end of their term;
surely Allah loves those who are careful (of their duty).
[9.5]
So when the sacred months have passed away,
then slay the idolaters wherever you find them,
and take them captives and besiege them and lie in wait for them in every ambush,
then if they repent and keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate,
leave their way free to them;
surely Allah is Forgiving,
Merciful.
That these modern peace accords have been entered into less than candidly by Arab nations
should be obvious from the statements of the Arab leaders themselves:
The Palestinian Deception
"The Palestinian people accepted the Oslo agreements as a first step and not as a permanent
arrangement, based on the premise that the war and struggle on the ground [i.e., locally against
Israeli territory] is more efficient than a struggle from a distant land... for the Palestinian people
will continue the revolution until they achieve the goals of the '65 revolution..." (P.A. Minister of
Supply Abd El Aziz Shahian, Al Ayaam, May 30, 2000.)
"Our people have hope for the future, that the Occupation State ceases to exist, and that it makes
no difference [how great] its power and arrogance..." (P.A. Minister of Communications, Amad
Alfalugi Al-Hayat Al-Jadida, November 18, 1999)
"I want to say that this is our Palestine, from Metulla [Israel's northernmost city] to Rafiah
[Southern border] and to Aqaba [Israel's southernmost point], from the [Jordan] River to the
[Mediterranean] Sea; whether they want it or not." (Dr. Jareer Al-Kidwah, advisor to "President"
Arafat P.A. TV broadcast, November 29, 2000)
Dr. Ahmad Abu Halabiya, a member of the Palestinian Authority appointed "Fatwa Council" said:
"Have no mercy on the Jews, no matter where they are, in any country. Fight them, wherever you
are. Wherever you meet them, kill them. Wherever you are, kill those Jews and those Americans
who are like them and those who stand by them they are all in one trench, against the Arabs and
the Muslims because they established Israel here, in the beating heart of the Arab world, in
Palestine."
".Allah willing, this unjust state...Israel will be erased; this unjust state, the United States will be
erased; this unjust state, Britain will be erased...Blessings to whoever waged Jihad for the sake of
Allah...Blessings to whoever put a belt of explosives on his body or on his sons' and plunged into
the midst of the Jews..." (Sermon by Sheikh Ibrahim Madhi a few days after Yasir Arafat's cease-
fire declaration P.A. Television, June 8, 2001)
2.) End Times
God won’t allow it for Israel His chosen people and His prophetic Timepiece to be wiped-out, it is
obvious from History.
Always Outnumbered
Israel has always been outnumbered and outgunned since being birthed in a day, but God has
always allowed them to prevail.
Consider this, the surrounding Muslim nations military might compared to Israel:
Israel 500,000 man army / Arabs Nations combined 2.5 million
Israeli tanks 3580 / Arab 15,000
Israeli Missles 1 for every 20 Arab
Israeli Aircraft 1 for every 3
Saddam Hussein said, “if we unite we can eliminate the Israeli problem in 24 hours.
The Cup of Trembling
Israel has always been outnumbered and outgunned since being birthed in a day, but God has
always allowed them to prevail. Why? Because they are God’s prophetic timepiece, and in the
Last Days they will be a “Cup of Trembling” to all the nations:
(Zechariah 12:2 KJV) Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they
shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.
God Not Done with Israel
It is important to understand this Christian, God is not done with Israel, or turned His back on
them. Many Bible teachers and World Leaders have been wrong on that, and it has lead to much
anti-Semitism against the Jewish people. They are wrong, and God says don’t be ignorant about
this:
(Romans 11:25 NKJV) For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be
wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
(Romans 11:26 NKJV) And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will
turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
(Romans 11:27 NKJV) For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
Satan wants to Stop the Clock
Understand this, if Israel is wiped out, then prophecy can’t be fulfilled, which means God’s Word
would fail, and we know that His Word never fails. Israel will never fail because they are the key
player in the End Times prophecy once the Church is raptured. I personally believe that Satan
believes that if he can wipe-out Israel and the Jews, then he can stop the prophecies form coming
to pass (remember Satan knows the Scriptures). Satan believes if the prophecy can’t be fulfilled,
then Jesus can’t come back. I believe this because Satan believed if he killed the Jesus when He
was born, then Jesus couldn’t redeem the world. Satan still thought he had a victory on the
cross, that he had won.
Satan has tried in the past to eliminate the Jews. Killing all the male child in Egypt, but Moses
was delivered. Trying to kill all the Jews under the Persian Empire but Esther and Mordecai were
used by God. King Herod tried killing all the male children to stop the Messiah, Titus slaughtered
1 million in 70AD, Hitler if not stopped would have killed them all, but he couldn’t because God
never fails, neither shall His Word.
Must Be Present For End Times / Their Role
Israel must be present in the End Times, and therefore they will. Here is how they will play in
according to the Scriptures:
After the Rapture (1 Thess 4:16) the Anti-Christ comes on the Scene (White Horse – Rev
6:2). There will never be peace in Israel with this type of spiritual warfare, and thus it sets the
stage perfectly for the Last Days, as the Anti-Christ will come on the scene and give Israel what
they have so longed for, Peace! He will broker 7 year Peace Agreement in Israel (Dan 9:27).
During this time or before the half way point of the Peace Agreement, the Temple will be rebuilt
(Rev 11:1). At some point Israel will be attack from the North by Russia (Ezk 38-39), but God will
supernaturally protect them and a Revival will happen in Israel (Ezk 39:22). The Anti-Christ won’t
be able to stand that they are saved, and will go out to kill and slaughter the rest of the world (Rev
12:17). The Anti-Christ will go into the temple and proclaim he is god (Dan 9:27). God will rush
the nation of Israel into the desert for safety for the rest of the Tribulation period (Rev 12:13). At
the end of the 7 year period, Jesus Christ will return with His saints and Satan will be bound for
1,000 years.
You see if there is no Israel, then there is no fulfilling these prophecies, but God’s Word never
fails, so Israel will here for all them to happen.
The Fig Tree has Blossomed
Saints these things will happen because Israel is still standing today, after all Satan has thrown at
them, therefore the Second Coming will happen. Just as all these Scriptures have come to pass
and remain true, there is one that we all must grab hold off and live for:
(Matthew 24:32 NKJV) "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts
forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
(Matthew 24:33 NKJV) "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near; at the doors!
(Matthew 24:34 NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take
place.
(Matthew 24:35 NKJV) "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
(Matthew 24:36 NKJV) "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
(Matthew 24:37 NKJV) "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
The Fig Tree is Symbolic of Israel Throughout Scripture
The Fig Tree is Symbolic of Israel throughout Scripture. In Matthew 21 we see Jesus' triumphal
entry into Jerusalem. This was the first time Jesus allowed public worship of Him as the Messiah.
Jesus then goes to the Temple, and cleans house, "you've made my Father House a den of
thieves"! Now, the next morning as Jesus was returning to the city, He sees a Fig Tree that had
leaves, but no fruit, and He curses the tree (Matt 21:18-22). God doesn't take precious space in
His word to curse a fruitless tree, he uses it to make a spiritual application, and we see what that
application is in the context of the rest of the chapter. In the rest of the chapter, Jesus' authority
is questioned by the Jewish leaders, and then Jesus gives the parable referring to Israel's
blindness to Him being the Messiah. The parable is the parable of the Vineyard owner sending
his servants his vineyard (land) and the workers of the land killed them. Then the Landowner
sent his son, and they killed him also (representing God sending Israel first prophets, and then
His Son - but the people of Israel killed them both). The Lord ends that chapter by affirming to
them that He is the Chief Cornerstone that the builders rejected. In this whole context of this
chapter, Jesus is making the point that Israel has missed their Messiah. The point for the Jewish
reader is unmistakable, because a Jew would know from the Old Testament Scriptures that the
Fig Tree represents Israel.
The fig tree was often employed in Scripture as a symbol of Israel (1 Kings 4:25, Hosea 9:10,
Joel 1:7, Nahum 3:12, Micah 4:4, Zechariah 3:10), and the barren fig tree often symbolizes divine
judgment on Israel because of her spiritual fruitlessness despite an abundance of spiritual
advantages (Jeremiah 8:13, Joel 1:12).
Ezekiel 37 – The Rebirthing of Israel
The rebirthing happened just like it was prophesied in the Book of Ezekiel;
(Ezekiel 37:1 NKJV) The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me
down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
(Ezekiel 37:2 NKJV) Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open
valley; and indeed they were very dry.
(Ezekiel 37:3 NKJV) And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know."
(Ezekiel 37:4 NKJV) Again He said to me, "Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the
LORD!
(Ezekiel 37:5 NKJV) 'Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: "Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall
live.
(Ezekiel 37:6 NKJV) "I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and
you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD."' "
(Ezekiel 37:7 NKJV) So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a
rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.
(Ezekiel 37:8 NKJV) Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but
there was no breath in them.
(Ezekiel 37:9 NKJV) Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'Thus
says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."' "
(Ezekiel 37:10 NKJV) So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood
upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
(Ezekiel 37:11 NKJV) Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say,
'Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!'
(Ezekiel 37:12 NKJV) "Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open
your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
(Ezekiel 37:13 NKJV) "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and
brought you up from your graves.
(Ezekiel 37:14 NKJV) "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you
shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.'"
(Ezekiel 37:15 NKJV) Again the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
(Ezekiel 37:16 NKJV) "As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: 'For Judah and for the children of
Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of
Israel, his companions.'
(Ezekiel 37:17 NKJV) "Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.
(Ezekiel 37:18 NKJV) "And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, 'Will you not show us what you mean
by these?';
(Ezekiel 37:19 NKJV) "say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand
of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them
one stick, and they will be one in My hand."'
(Ezekiel 37:20 NKJV) "And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.
(Ezekiel 37:21 NKJV) "Then say to them, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Surely I will take the children of Israel from among
the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land;
2000 Years Without a Homeland
2000 years without a homeland, but May 14, 1948 Israel was re-birthed. How long is a
generation? We can speculate on that, 40years, 50 years, 60 or 70, 100? No matter how you
look at it, it is soon.
Nobody knows, but we are told to look at the signs:
(Matthew 24:36 NKJV) "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.
The signs of our times were the same as the times of Noah:
(Matthew 24:37 NKJV) "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.
(Matthew 24:38 NKJV) "For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in
marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark,
(Matthew 24:39 NKJV) "and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son
of Man be.
We are the generation that has seen the fig tree blossom, and therefore the return of Christ is
near. As I say if He doesn’t come today, then He is coming tomorrow. Ask me tomorrow and I’ll
tell you the same thing.
I Come Quickly
(Revelation 22:20 NKJV) He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord
Jesus!
Genesis Chapter 13
Out of Egypt
Genesis is beginning of His Story / The Scarlet thread
This Old Testament shows us who Jesus is, and it all starts here in the Book of Genesis.
Genesis, the book of beginnings; the beginning of the history of man, but more so, it is His-story.
The story of the God who loves you so much that He would go to a hill in Palestine and be nailed
in His hands and feet to a rugged cross, suffer 6 grueling hours, die, be buried, but rise again on
the third day. There is a scarlet thread that is woven through this Old Testament, from Genesis
through Malachi, 39 books, all with one main theme, the Messiah, God Himself, who would give
Himself to redeem man from his sins.
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap 12
As we left off in chapter 12 we saw that a famine had come upon the land, so Abraham took
matters into his own hands and departed down to Egypt. It was a bad plan, Abraham ended up
lying, telling his wife to lie, rebuked by Pharaoh (who wasn’t a believer), then he ends up
acquiring Hagar, the Egyptian maidservant that will bear his son Ishmael that will be the father of
the Arab nations, which to this day still bring pain to Abraham’s children.
If You Don’t Know – Then Don’t
Gang, if you don’t know what to do, then don’t. Abraham felt like he had to do something, and it
cost him dearly. Those that wait on the Lord will be blessed:
(Psalms 37:7 NKJV) Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
(Psalms 37:9 NKJV) For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth.
No Temptation has Overtaken
There is no situation that God has not prepared a way out for you, a way that is according to His
Word and ways, and is pleasing to Him. Wait for that direction, seek that direction, follow that
direction:
(1 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV) Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.
(1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who
will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that
you may be able to bear it.
God Waited / Abraham Grew / Pick Something Up
But the Lord waited for Abraham to return, and we will see him coming “back up” out of Egypt
which in the Scriptures is a type of the world, and we always see that people go down to Egypt,
and up to Jerusalem the Holy City. We will see in this chapter that Abraham did grow in his
spiritual maturity; now he still has a way to go, but lets not forget where he came from either, God
called him out of his land in Babylon, and Abraham left it. So we see him growing in the faith
from his experience in Egypt. Christian, every time you fall, pick something up on the way up.
Learn from the experience, grow from it.
(Genesis 13:1 NKJV) Then Abram went up from Egypt, he and his wife and all that he had,
and Lot with him, to the South.
(Genesis 13:2 NKJV) Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.
(Genesis 13:3 NKJV) And he went on his journey from the South as far as Bethel, to the
place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai,
(Genesis 13:4 NKJV) to the place of the altar which he had made there at first. And there
Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Back to Where he had Started / No Altar in World
Abraham went back to the place where the Lord had last appeared to him and where he had built
the altar unto the Lord. Bethel means "the house of God," and it is a place where the early
fathers, Abraham and Jacob, met with God. As we continue with Genesis, we will find that Jacob
has an encounter with God at Bethel and later on God will tell Jacob to return to Bethel. Many
times, there is a blessing in returning to that place where you first met God. Egypt had been a
time of spiritual barrenness. That lack of faith that lead Abraham to turn to Egypt rather than
depend on God to supply his necessities in the land, during the drought. It was not only a time of
problems in a physical sense but, also, a time of spiritual dearth in Abraham's life and so he
returns to Bethel and calls upon the Lord. As you follow the Scriptures through, we see that
Abraham never built an altar when he was in Egypt. The altar is a place of worship; the world will
never lead you to a place of worship.
Ephesus / Remember, Repent, and Repeat.
Jesus said to the church of Ephesus:
(Revelation 2:5 NKJV) "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come
to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place; unless you repent.
Remember where you fallen, and then Jesus says to Repent which means to change directions
(go back to where you doing well). And then, do those things again.
Remember, Repent, and Repeat.
What was it That You were Doing? / Where Treasures Are
What was it that you were doing before you fall. Was it early morning prayer, was it Scripture
memorization, was it serving in a certain ministry, then go back to that place. You may say “I
don’t feel like doing those things”. It doesn’t matter if you feel like doing it, just do it. Why?
(Matthew 6:21 NKJV) "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Do those things even when you don’t feel like it, and your heart will follow, and you will find
yourself back in the place where you had sweet fellowship with the Lord, where you were so on-
fire for Him. Where your treasures are so will your heart follow. That is what Abraham did, he
went back to that place of his first work, he went back to the place where he pitched his tent and
built an altar.
(Genesis 13:5 NKJV) Lot also, who went with Abram, had flocks and herds and tents.
(Genesis 13:6 NKJV) Now the land was not able to support them, that they might dwell
together, for their possessions were so great that they could not dwell together.
(Genesis 13:7 NKJV) And there was strife between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and
the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites then dwelt in the land.
Stuff / World Watching Us /
They acquired so much stuff in the world, Egypt, that they had all these possessions, and it
caused problems/strife between Abraham and Lot. How many fights begin over stuff? Interesting
the Holy Spirit points out to us that the Canaanites and the Perizzites were in the land, I think that
is just to point out to us the world watched as two brethren had strife between them. Don’t let the
world see us have strife between us. What an embarrassment when the world sees Christians
cal the police on each other, or two churches bashing each other. It ought not to be so. I
remember a few ladies in a church in Florida, who worked at a beauty salon, and they would air
all the church laundry to their clients, they could never figure out why they never lead anyone of
them to the Lord. I’m not saying be phony, but the world doesn’t need to be in our kitchens.
Abraham will show us how to handle these situations in the next verses.
(Genesis 13:8 NKJV) So Abram said to Lot, "Please let there be no strife between you and
me, and between my herdsmen and your herdsmen; for we are brethren.
(Genesis 13:9 NKJV) "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you
take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left."
(Genesis 13:10 NKJV) And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was
well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the
garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
(Genesis 13:11 NKJV) Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot
journeyed east. And they separated from each other.
(Genesis 13:12 NKJV) Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the
plain and pitched his tent even as far as Sodom.
(Genesis 13:13 NKJV) But the men of Sodom were exceedingly wicked and sinful against
the LORD.
Abraham Grew / Lot Absorbed
Here we see Abraham’s growth in spirituality maturity and faith. He made his mistake in Egypt,
but he picked something up on his way up. But unfortunately for Lot, he picked up some bad
things on his trip to Egypt that Abraham brought him to. So one more bad thing coming out of
Abraham feeling like he had to do something, so he did, rather than wait on the Lord. We see Lot
turn his eyes towards the lush green grass of Sodom that was where exceeding wicked and sinful
men were.
Lets contrast the “Wisdom of Abraham”, to the "Weakness of Lot."
3 things to see with the Wisdom of Abraham:
• Spiritual Directness
• Spiritual Discernment
• Spiritual Development
Directness / Tact
Spiritual Directness: Abraham goes and deals with the matter directly. He doesn't mix words, but
goes directly to Lot and says we have a bad thing going on here and we need to fix it
immediately. Christians be direct, in love, don't let a problem go unapproached because it will
start to snowball, people will start bickering, complaining, backbiting and gossip. Go and speak
the truth and don't worry about being liked, yes it will be uncomfortable, but it isn't about what is
best for us, but for another brother, the body, and the Lord. Also, notice Abraham's tact (verse 8).
He doesn't say your herdsman are blowing it, rather he says let there be no strife between me
and you, and my herdsman and yours. He associates himself with the problem, rather than
saying it's all you. The way you approach is as important as what you have to say.
Discernment / More that Unites / People Perishing
Spiritual Discernment: Notice, verse 8, Abraham says we are brothers. What he is saying is that
there is more that unites us, than divides us. This is powerful spiritual discernment. We as a
church need to know this, implant it in our hearts. Yes there is a difference among other
churches, what unites us is greater than any differences that we have, for we are united by the
person and works of the Lord Jesus. Let me tell you, a person, a church, a group that forgets
this, has one thing in common form my experience, they have forgot that people are perishing all
around every day, and we are here to be life rafts to save them, not build names for ourselves.
Development / Elder / I’ll still Get the Best
Spiritual Development: Look at Abraham's spiritual development. He is spiritually direct for the
good of all, he has much greater spiritual discernment since he went to Egypt and told Sarah to
lie. Look at his trust in the Lord. He says go ahead you chose and I'll take what's left. Now being
the older, the leader, it was his right to pick first, but he lets Lot chose,. Why, because Abraham
learned something in Egypt, and that is that God is going to take care of him, that god is going to
protect him. He knows that no matter what Lot chooses, he is still going to end up with the best.
God made a promise to me, I am back in the land where God called me to be, and I know as long
as I am where He called me to be, doing what He called me to do, then He will take care of all.
Christian, do you believe this for your life?
Now The “Weakness of Lot”:
• Weak in Devotion
• Worldly Desires
• Wrong in Decisions
No Altar / It Altars Us – Keeps us From Conforming to World
Weak in Devotion: Abraham and Lot both had a lot of stuff (verse 5). They flocks, herds, and
tents but there is no mention of Lot ever building an altar. He pitched tents, but never built altars.
Abraham's life we saw, and will continue to see is that we continually see him pitching tents and
building altars (although, I might add that we never saw him building an altar when he was in
Egypt). It is import that we have an altar in our life, and that altar is a continual focus upon the
Lord, the cross, and "do this in remembrance of Me."" We need an altar in our life, because the
altar will altar us, it will keep us from conforming to this world.
Lifted Eyes – Not to God / Business / Christian Portal
Worldly Desires: Lot's lack of devotions easily let him be lead to the world. Verse 10 it says that
he lifted his eyes up to see the land, but he didn't lift them up to see the Lord you see. He didn't
seek the direction of the Lord; he saw the land looked good. He saw a good place to sustain his
business (sustain his flocks). Gang, green pastures don't mean it is the best place for us. Lot is
going to end up in Sodom, along with his kids.
The Christian portal is the ear:
(Romans 10:17 NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
(2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.
The portal of the flesh is the eye:
(Genesis 3:6 NKJV) So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree
desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate.
(1 John 2:16 NKJV) For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life; is not of the
Father but is of the world.
Lot acted upon what he saw, Abraham had acted upon what he couldn't see.
Series of Decisions
Wrong in Decisions: Look at his wrong decisions because of his weak devotion and worldly
desires:
Verse 10 - He saw green pastures before Sodom
(Genesis 13:10 NKJV) And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before
the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar.
Verse 12 - He pitched his tent facing Sodom
(Genesis 13:12 NKJV) Abram dwelt in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelt in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent
even as far as Sodom.
Verse 14:12 - he is living in Sodom
(Genesis 14:12 NKJV) They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom, and his goods, and departed.
Verse 19:1 - he is a leader in Sodom (sitting at the city gates).
(Genesis 19:1 NKJV) Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When
Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground.
Christians Make Same Mistake / How it Effect me Spiritually
Christians make these mistakes all the time. They look and say it is a good financial opportunity
for me, this is a great career move, more money, and they don't examine how will it effect me
spiritually, how will it effect my family spiritually. I've watched people move to an area for better
money and end up with no fellowship, no church, no teaching of the Word. Their marriage starts
to suffer, and so do their kids. I love it when I hear about people moving somewhere because
they want to be closer to a church they know will bless them and their family.
What it Profits a Man
(Matthew 16:26 NKJV) "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a
man give in exchange for his soul?
So what you get a great job, what does that matter if your kids are destroyed along the way. Lot
takes his kids to an area that he knew was full of wickedness. Don’t take that job, that house, if it
is going to bring your children in an area that you know is full of wicked and perverse people.
Lot of Christians Like Lot
Just for understanding, Lot was a believer:
(2 Peter 2:6 NKJV) and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making
them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
(2 Peter 2:7 NKJV) and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
(2 Peter 2:8 NKJV) (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing
and hearing their lawless deeds);
A lot of Christians are like Lot. We see Lot said yes to heaven, he left the Ur of Chaldeans, but
he didn't say no to Sodom (the green pastures). Many Christians are like that, they say yes to
heaven, but they can't leave the world, they love Sodom and the green pastures, but rest
assured, they will end up like Lot. Sadly the last we will hear about Lot is drunkard incestuous
relationship. But, the God of Grace, still calls him righteous. He was righteous not because of
who he was, but because who God is.
For us, be like Abraham:
(Genesis 13:14 NKJV) And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him:
"Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are; northward, southward,
eastward, and westward;
(Genesis 13:15 NKJV) "for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants
forever.
(Genesis 13:16 NKJV) "And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that
if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be
numbered.
(Genesis 13:17 NKJV) "Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it
to you."
(Genesis 13:18 NKJV) Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth
trees of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.
The Lord Speaks / Expands the Promise
Notice verse 14, the Lord speaks to Abraham. No mention of the Lord speaking to Abraham
while he was in Egypt. Now when the Lord does speak, look what He does, He expands the
promise that He had given Abraham. He adds the word – forever on to the promise. Its good to
be in the place God has called you to be, you will hear from Him, and you will hear wonderful
things.
Hebron / Mamre / Abe got the Best
Abraham is pitching a tent and building an altar in Mamre which is in Hebron. Hebron means
communion, and Mamre means fatness. Abraham is going to build his altar so he can
communion with the Lord, and be full. Abraham was right when he knew, Lot you take your pick,
I'll still end up with the best, for I know that I am where god wants me to be.
Genesis Chapter 14
The Rescue of Lot / Melchizedek
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap 13
In chapter 13 we saw Abraham wasn't going to wrestle with his brother in the Lord, and he says
you take what you want and I'll take what's left. What a godly thing to do, and we saw that he
doesn't lose out, in fact, he ends up with it all. Lot makes his decision based on what he can see,
Abraham makes his decision based on what he can’t see, but trusts in.
Abraham Let Go / Blessed For It
The main point here in this story is that Abraham didn't cause division to get his stuff, he let go,
and let God, and was blessed for it. The land Abraham got forever, Lot’s we will see was only
temporary:
(Genesis 13:14 NKJV) And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from
the place where you are; northward, southward, eastward, and westward;
(Genesis 13:15 NKJV) "for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.
Be The Peacemaker
Abraham gives us the example of a peacemaker, and Jesus said:
(Matthew 5:9 NKJV) Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Consider this verse next time you are in an Abraham position, for the Lord is saying you are the
"sons of God", you are being just like my Son Jesus, a reflection of your Father, I am so proud of
you.
No Man, Gov’t, Program
Next time someone wants their stuff, wants you to concede, let them, like Abraham, and know
this, no man, government, or program can stop the plan of God in your life. Do you believe this,
you should, for there is total freedom in it, you can let go, and let God, and can rest and not have
to strive and struggle.
Mark 10:28-31 / 100 Fold
You know what else we see here, we see Mark 10:28-31 in Biblical example.
(Mark 10:28 NKJV) Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You."
(Mark 10:29 NKJV) So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers
or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's,
(Mark 10:30 NKJV) "who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time; houses and brothers and sisters and mothers
and children and lands, with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.
(Mark 10:31 NKJV) "But many who are first will be last, and the last first."
The Lord is saying I will bless you and provide for you. People say I don't believe that, are you
saying that if I give 10 dollars I'll get 1000 back? Yes, if you really look at. Do you have a job,
how much do you make at that job? Who gave you that job? Spend anytime unemployed and
you will see how much it is God’s grace to have a job. Do you have a home, how much more is
that home worth than a cardboard box? Have you starved to death yet, how much is that food
worth to you that keeps you alive? The Lord blesses us so much. My point simply is that if you
have a home, a job, food and clothing, I really believe that you have been blessed 100 fold.
(Genesis 14:1 NKJV) And it came to pass in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch
king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations,
(Genesis 14:2 NKJV) that they made war with Bera king of Sodom, Birsha king of
Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah, Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is,
Zoar).
(Genesis 14:3 NKJV) All these joined together in the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt
Sea).
(Genesis 14:4 NKJV) Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year
they rebelled.
(Genesis 14:5 NKJV) In the fourteenth year Chedorlaomer and the kings that were with
him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzim in Ham, the Emim in
Shaveh Kiriathaim,
(Genesis 14:6 NKJV) and the Horites in their mountain of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is
by the wilderness.
(Genesis 14:7 NKJV) Then they turned back and came to En Mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and
attacked all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who dwelt in Hazezon
Tamar.
(Genesis 14:8 NKJV) And the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah,
the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela (that is, Zoar) went out and joined together in
battle in the Valley of Siddim
(Genesis 14:9 NKJV) against Chedorlaomer king of Elam, Tidal king of nations, Amraphel
king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar; four kings against five.
It is 4 kings verse 5, going to war in the area of the Salt Sea (Dead Sea).
(Genesis 14:10 NKJV) Now the Valley of Siddim was full of asphalt pits; and the kings of
Sodom and Gomorrah fled; some fell there, and the remainder fled to the mountains.
(Genesis 14:11 NKJV) Then they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their
provisions, and went their way.
(Genesis 14:12 NKJV) They also took Lot, Abram's brother's son who dwelt in Sodom, and
his goods, and departed.
Lot – From Tent to Dwelling / Lost his Covering
Last time we saw Lot in chapter 13 he pitched his tents facing Sodom, and now it is only a short
time later he is living in Sodom. What looked like a good business opportunity (green plains),
turns out to bring him to a place where he is left unprotected. He left the covering of his uncle
Abraham, and ends up in a vulnerable place. This happens so often to Christians as they leave a
place of spiritual covering, in order to advance in the material things of this world. Don't be a Lot!
Lost All his Stuff
Notice, not only did they take Lot, but all his stuff. All that work to get his stuff and maintain his
stuff, gone in a day.
(Matthew 6:19 NKJV) "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves
break in and steal;
(Matthew 6:20 NKJV) "but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where
thieves do not break in and steal.
(Genesis 14:13 NKJV) Then one who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew, for
he dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre the Amorite, brother of Eshcol and brother of
Aner; and they were allies with Abram.
(Genesis 14:14 NKJV) Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he
armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house,
and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
(Genesis 14:15 NKJV) He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his
servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus.
(Genesis 14:16 NKJV) So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his
brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.
First Mention of War / Justified
This is the first mention of war in the Scriptures. In the study of the Bible there is what is called
the "principle of first mention" and it so often gives us a key to understanding a subject/topic as it
is used throughout the whole Bible. What we see here is the answer to question, is war justifiable
for the believer. We see here that war is justifiable when it is for the purpose of liberating family.
Abraham frees Lot and the other people, but he does not take material gain from his victory.
Abraham Father of Covert Ops
This is just interesting to note, Abraham was a bad dude, he is probably around 75 years old, and
he is mounting up for war against four kings armies who had just defeated 5 kings armies.
Abraham at 75 comes with only 318 of his trained servants. He launches a covert operation,
striking at night using the cover of darkness to his advantage. It is still today, Israel has quite
possibly the greatest Special Ops forces in the world (right there with the USA). It is in their
blood.
Israel, back in the 80's launched a covert operation that went and took out Sadaam's nuclear
power plant that he was building, which would have been used to make nuclear weapons. Who
can forget the raid on Entebbe airport?
Raid on Entebbe Airport
The Entebbe Rescue Mission: On June 27, 1976, four terrorists forced an Air France Airbus to land in Uganda, in the
heart of distant Africa. They quickly demanded that Israel release 53 convicted terrorists (PLO). The hijackers freed the
French crew and non-Jewish passengers, while retaining 105 Jewish and Israeli hostages. A 48-hour deadline was set
before executions would begin.
Faced with little choice, the Israeli government announced that it would enter into negotiations. This bought the precious
time needed to consolidate a seemingly impossible military option. A new ultimatum was issued for 13:00 on Sunday, July
4.
The only airplane capable of a rescue operation was the C-130 Hercules. On July 1, the mission's overall commander,
Brig. General Dan Shomron (later to become the IDF Chief-of-Staff), presented his plan to the IDF Commander and
Israel's Defense Minister. The next day they all witnessed a full-scale dress rehearsal. The incredible was deemed
possible.
Shomron's plan was based on several advantages that the Israelis had over the terrorists. The Entebbe airport at which
the hostages were being held was built by an Israeli construction firm, which was able to provide Shomron with blueprints.
Moreover, the released, non-Jewish hostages were able to describe the terrorists, their arms, and their positioning. As a
result, the IDF decided to send in an overwhelmingly powerful force: over 200 of the best soldiers the army had to offer
participated in the raid, all of them heavily armed.
Finally, the element of surprise was probably the biggest edge that Israel held. According to Shomron: "You had more
than 100 people sitting in a small room, surrounded by terrorists with their fingers on the trigger. They could fire in a
fraction of a second. we had to fly seven hours, land safely, drive to the terminal area where the hostages were being
held, get inside, and eliminate all the terrorists before any of them could fire." The fact that no one expected the Israelis to
take such risks was precisely the reason that they took them.
The aircraft took off at 13:20 on July 3 and headed south. Only then was the plan revealed to the Israeli Cabinet, which
decided to let the operation continue. The lead Hercules carried the rescue force, led by Lt. Col. Yonatan Netanyahu. It
also held two jeeps and the now famous black Mercedes, a perfect copy of dictator Idi Amin's personal car. Two additional
Hercules carried reinforcements and troops assigned to carry out special missions, such as destroying the Migs parked
nearby. A fourth Hercules was sent to evacuate the hostages.
The air package also included two Boeing 707's. One acted as a forward command post. The second, outfitted as an
airborne hospital, landed in nearby Nairobi, Kenya. The Hercules was escorted by F4 Phantoms as far as possible-about
one-third the distance.
Skirting thunderstorms over Lake Victoria, the Hercules transports neared the end of the 7-hour, 40-minute flight. A
surprise awaited them: the runway lights were on! Despite this, they landed undetected at 23:01 (local time), only one
minute past their planned arrival time.
The soldiers freed the hostages in a lightning attack, killing all eight terrorists in the process. Tragically, force commander
Yoni Netanyahu was killed as he led the hostages toward the safety of the aircraft; additionally, two hostages were killed
in the crossfire inside the airport. The other squads accomplished their missions in virtually the same time as during the
"dry-run." By 23:59 the planes were on their way home. The operation, which was predicted to last one hour, in fact took
only 58 minutes.
The mission struck a blow at international terrorism. "It resonated far and wide," Shomron later commented. "It showed
that you could counter terrorism, and that it was worth cooperating to do so." As America celebrated its Bicentennial, the
world was reminded that freedom is a value which must be fought for in every generation.
Got to love Abraham at 75, getting the sword out. He dispels anyone that says they are too old
for missions, if God is in it, He will supply all your needs.
Nugget of Gold - Melchizedek
Now, for a passage of the Word, that seems to mean nothing, until we read the Book of Hebrews.
The appearing of Melchizedek:
(Genesis 14:17 NKJV) And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of
Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the
kings who were with him.
(Genesis 14:18 NKJV) Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he
was the priest of God Most High.
(Genesis 14:19 NKJV) And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most
High, Possessor of heaven and earth;
(Genesis 14:20 NKJV) And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies
into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.
Abraham meets Melchizedek
So here in Genesis fourteen, we read that as Abraham was returning from the victory over the
five kings, that had taken his nephew, Lot as a hostage, he had conquered over the five kings,
chasing them all of the way to the gates of Damascus. He had defeated them and taken much
spoil. And as he came back the king of Sodom met him to show his appreciation. But then in
Genesis 4:18, and Melchisedec, the king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine and he was the
priest of the most High God. And he blessed him and said, blessed be the God of Abraham, or
blessed be Abraham of the most high God, possessor of the heaven and the earth. And blessed
be the most high God, which has delivered your enemies into your hands. And Abraham gave
him tithes of all that he gained.
Salem – Peace / Righteousness / Melech - King
The word, Salem, means “peace”, so he is the “king of peace”. He was the priest of the Most
High God. This is the first mention of a priest in the Bible, and it is used in reference to this
mysterious man, Melchizedek. Melchisedec, means King of Righteousness. Melech is the
Hebrew for king.
Book of Hebrews
We get a commentary on this mystery man in the Book of Hebrews:
(Hebrews 6:19 NKJV) This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the
Presence behind the veil,
(Hebrews 6:20 NKJV) where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according
to the order of Melchizedek.
(Hebrews 7:1 NKJV) For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from
the slaughter of the kings and blessed him,
(Hebrews 7:2 NKJV) to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated "king of righteousness," and
then also king of Salem, meaning "king of peace,"
(Hebrews 7:3 NKJV) without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life,
but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
(Hebrews 7:4 NKJV) Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the
spoils.
No Genealogy
This mysterious Mechizedek has a unique genealogy. We follow the genealogy from Abraham
on through to Joseph and to the twelve sons of Jacob, in the Book of Genesis. And over and
over again we have the genealogies. It was very important in the Book of Genesis to list the
genealogies, to list their births and of course we read, and he begat sons and daughters and he
died. And he begat sons and daughters and he died. So it records the birth as well as the death
of those important characters in the Book of Genesis. But suddenly, here we have a man that
comes on the scene. He is called the king of peace. His name means the king of righteousness.
And Abraham received a blessing from him. And Abraham pays tithes to him. And yet no
genealogy. We are not told who his parents were. We’re not told when he was born. We’re not
told when he died. So from this, the writer of Hebrews draws out the fact that he is without the
genealogy, without any background, he suddenly comes on the scene. He is without generation.
He is without descent. That is, we hear nothing of the descendants of Melchisedec. Nothing is
told of his birth or of His death.
Theophany / Shows Up with Bread & Wine
Why I believe there is no genealogy is because this is one of the manifestations of God in the Old
Testament. I believe that Melchisedec was Jesus Christ Himself. A theophany, is what the
Theologians call this. I find it ever so interesting in that Melchizedek shows up with what when
He meets Abraham, “bread and wine”, the elements of the Lord’s Supper, the elements that
represent Christ’s broken body and poured out blood.
John 8 / Abraham saw my Day
In the eighth of chapter of John, when Jesus is disputing with the Jews, Jesus said to them, your
father Abraham rejoiced to see My day and he saw it and he was glad. Then the Jews said to
Him, You are not fifty years old. And have You seen Abraham. And Jesus said unto them, verily,
verily I say unto you, before Abraham was, I am!
(John 8:56 NKJV) "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad."
(John 8:57 NKJV) Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"
(John 8:58 NKJV) Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
Recap Melchizedek
So the reference to Abraham seeing His day, is a reference to Melchisedec, meeting Abraham
when he was returning from the battle of the five kings with the spoils. The interesting thing is he
is called the king of peace. He is called the king of righteousness. There is no genealogy. There
is no descent. There is no record of his parentage or of the descendants. And the interesting
thing when He appears to Abraham, what did He offer him? Bread and wine, the elements of
communion. And so there are many who hold to the idea that Melchisedec was actually one of
the Old Testament appearances of Jesus Christ.
OT Saints / They Look Forward / We Look Back
The question is asked, was Abraham, Moses, David, Elijah, and the others like them saved?
Yes, they were saved, as we read in Hebrews 11, because they had faith in the promise of the
Messiah to come. They were saved by looking forward, just as we are saved by looking back.
Abraham broke bread with the Messiah, 2000 years before Jesus said do this in remembrance of
me.
(Hebrews 11:13 NKJV) These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were
assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
(Luke 22:19 NKJV) And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is
given for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
Abraham looked forward with anticipation, as we look back with remembrance; as we all met at
the cross, by faith.
Abraham Tithed / Before the Law
And he gave him a tithe of all.- notice Abraham tithed Melchizedek. Gave a tenth of all. This is
the first mention of tithing in the Bible. I note that because it was before the Law of Moses.
People will say we are not under the Law, therefore tithing is not applicable today. Wrong,
Abraham tithed Jesus several hundred years before the Law. But notice, Abraham gave freely,
the Lord never asked it of him, Abraham offered out of a cheerful loving heart:
(2 Corinthians 9:5 NKJV) Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren to go to you ahead of time, and prepare
your generous gift beforehand, which you had previously promised, that it may be ready as a matter of generosity and not
as a grudging obligation.
(2 Corinthians 9:6 NKJV) But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will
also reap bountifully.
(2 Corinthians 9:7 NKJV) So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a
cheerful giver.
(2 Corinthians 9:8 NKJV) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in
all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
The Contrasting Kings
Now comes a contrasting king, the king of Sodom, who is the complete opposite of Melchizedek.
Genesis 14:21 NKJV) Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and
take the goods for yourself."
(Genesis 14:22 NKJV) But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the
LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth,
(Genesis 14:23 NKJV) "that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I
will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich';
(Genesis 14:24 NKJV) "except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the
men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion."
King Sodom – Type of Satan / Souls & Stuff
The King of Sodom is a picture of Satan in the Scriptures. Notice what he says, give me the
people, and you keep the stuff. Satan is always after the souls of people, but always wants us to
keep the stuff, more stuff, in hope to weight us down with them. He says you keep the toys and
trinkets, enjoy them and play with them, just give me the souls.
Abraham says No Way / No Hook in Me
What does Abraham say, no way, I will take nothing from you, lest you have a hook in me, lest
you have some say in my life, lest you take credit for what god has done, no way I will take
nothing from you.
How do you Say no to Satan / Communion / Tithing / The Formula
Beloved, how do you say no to Satan, and yes to Jesus? We see the way right here in this story.
What did Abraham do, He communed/fellowshipped with Jesus, and gave tithes to Jesus. We
are to remember what Jesus has done for us (we do that in communion of breaking bread and
juice), we fellowship with Him in our prayer time, study time, and just talking to Him throughout
the day, and then give back to him a portion of what he gives us. The communion keeps fixed on
the altar, and the tithing keeps us in that tent mentality, that mindset that we are just passing
through, and not to hold on to anything too tightly. Our giving unto the Lord places our heart in
heaven, where He is and where we are going:
(Matthew 6:21 NKJV) "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
This formula gives you the power to say no, why, because I have just communed with the King of
Salem, the Prince of Righteousness, and nothing can draw me away from Him, from His love for
me. And I have sent my treasures ahead. For where your treasures are, so will your heart be.
Back to Chapter 13 / Defined His Life
Lets flip back to chapter 13, verse 14. We see that Abraham’s life was defined by pitching tents
and building altars. It was this life, this mindset, that gave Abraham a blessing beyond measure,
he got to break bread with God himself, 2000 years before Jesus would say do this in
remembrance of me:
(Genesis 13:14 NKJV) And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from
the place where you are; northward, southward, eastward, and westward;
(Genesis 13:15 NKJV) "for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever.
(Genesis 13:16 NKJV) "And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust
of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered.
(Genesis 13:17 NKJV) "Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you."
(Genesis 13:18 NKJV) Then Abram moved his tent, and went and dwelt by the terebinth trees of Mamre, which are in
Hebron, and built an altar there to the LORD.
Lift Eyes / Now - Please / I Called You
In verse 14 the Lord says Abraham "Lift up your Eyes now", look what I am giving you. This
word "now" in the Hebrew is also used for "please". The Lord is saying Abraham please lift up
your eyes and look at what I've given you. I called you out of the land of UR, out of idol worship,
you came, although you came the long way via Hebron. You went to Egypt, but I preserved you,
and now you are back where you started, back where you are suppose to be.
Abraham Looks Back / Lord's Hand Every Step
No doubt Abraham would look out over the land and see where he first entered the land, see
where he left the land and went to Egypt in a lack of faith, and he would see where he came back
into the land. He would see the long journey he had been on, and look back and see how the
Lord's hand had been upon him every step of the way - even when he wasn't where he was
suppose to be.
We Can Do that Today - Look at Our Journey / Knew About Him
We can all do that today, and should do it often, we can look back at the long journey we have
been on, we can look back at how far He has taken us, how His hand has been leading and
guiding us, even when we weren't where we were suppose to be at the time. We see His calling
of us out of this world, out of a futile and empty life, how He brought us into a new place prepared
by Him for us. We see how He was at work in us before we even knew it. I grew up with no one
ever sharing the gospel with me. I knew about Him, but never knew Him, I just practiced religion.
Abe's Journey / Goodness - Grace-Faithfullness / My Journey
Abraham's whole journey of life was marked by God's goodness, grace, and faithfulness. I can
look back and as I life up my eyes, that is all I can see He has ever given me; His goodness,
grace, and faithfulness. So too can you when you lift your eyes up.
Look East - West / Can You See Anything Else / Fading World
God says to us, lift up your eyes, look as far as the east, west, north and south; and tell me if you
can see anything else besides my faithfulness. I see a world that is fading away, a generation
that is hopeless, and it makes me see that such was I had it not been for His faithfulness and love
for me. Had it not been for His call to me, I love you, come walk with Me, fellowship with Me,
commune with me.
Lift Up Your Eyes - PLEASE!
Abraham, pitched tents and built altars, it defined who he was. So let it be for us.
Genesis Chapter 15
Fear Not, For I Am your Shield & Great Reward
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap 14 / Rescue Lot
There was a northern confederacy of very powerful kings, from the area of Babylon, who had
invaded toward the south and had conquered many cities. Five kings of the Jordan Plain
confederated against them but were defeated by them. The northern kings took the city of Sodom
and Gomorrah and they sacked the cities and took hostages and among them was Lot, the
nephew of Abraham. When Abraham received word that Lot and his family were taken hostage,
he armed three hundred and eighteen of his servants, trained in his own house, and pursued
them and caught up with them at Dan. In a surprise raid at night, they attacked them from two
sides; and defeated them; and pursued them all the way to Damascus.
2 Kings / Melchizedek
Abraham was able to take Lot and deliver him with his family and the other hostages. He also
took all of the spoils that they had taken in their whole sortie, south. As Abraham was returning
and passing by Jerusalem, the King of Righteousness, Melchizedek, came out to meet him; gave
him bread and wine and blessed him. Abraham gave him tithes of all that he had. There the King
of Sodom expressed to Abraham his appreciation for what he had done. He told Abraham to keep
all the spoil and just to give him the hostages back. Abraham declared that he would not take so
much as a thread or a shoelace, because, he had made a vow to the LORD, possessor of
heaven and earth.
(Genesis 15:1 NKJV) After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision,
saying, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your exceedingly great reward."
After these things refers back to chapter 14. Then the Lord appears to Abraham with a word of
comfort and encouragement, He says to Abraham – Don not be Afraid.
Impulse / House Fire / Realization / What if they Regroup
Maybe Abraham had started to fear. A lot of times we do things on an impulse. There is a need
and we don't really stop to think of the danger involved. We are responding and acting upon the
need. If a house is on fire and you hear someone calling, you run into the house not thinking of
the danger, but, only of the call for help. Afterwards you stand outside and shake and say, "that
was a foolish thing to do." You begin to be frightened after your actions and this is probably what
happened to Abraham. Suddenly, he realized what he had done. With three hundred and
eighteen armed servants he pursued after these powerful kings, who had defeated the whole
area towards the south, west, and east of him. Now, he starts thinking, what if they regroup?
What if they come back to get revenge? Abraham probably became a little fearful as he began to
think about all these things; so, the LORD spoke to him in a vision and told him not to be afraid.
High Highs – Low Lows / Jesus for 40days
Isn't that the way it so often is in our life, after a great victory, a great high (Abraham just dined
with Melchizedek), then comes the spiritual low, or a whole new battle. Well we are not alone,
Jesus Christ Himself experienced that Himself. The Spirit falls upon Him during baptism, then
immediately the Spirit leads Him into the wilderness for 40 days of trials and temptations.
This phrase, "fear not" is used over one hundred times in the scriptures. We have a tendency
towards fear, but it is interesting that God so often addresses his servants, "Don't be afraid."
Jesus told his disciples many times, "fear not." Here the LORD appeared to Abraham in a vision.
A vision is spiritual insight. We're surrounded by spirit beings and the spirit world is real. Once in
a while, God will open a person's eyes to behold the spirit realm and this is called a "vision." It is
while a person is in a state of being awake that he suddenly sees the spirit realm.
I’m Your Shield / Reward / We have it All – Need Nothing Else
God spoke to Abraham and told him not to be afraid. Abraham was probably thinking that he had
no defense against these armies, if they came back; so, God said, "I am your shield." He could
have been remorseful that he didn't take some of the spoil and the LORD declared to him, "I am
your exceeding great reward." You've got me Abraham, you don't need anything else. How true
that is. The Lord is the inheritance. If we would only understand that the person who possesses
the Lord, possesses the resources that can never be diminished. How sad, the person who relies
upon his own strength. Though he be the strongest man in the world, his strength is still limited.
How blessed the man, who is going to trust in the strength of the Lord, no matter how weak he is.
He is never without strength if he is trusting in the Lord. That's the whole idea: The Lord is my
strength, The Lord is my keeper.
Not Something From – But the Lord / Bread – Way - Truth
You know what everybody is truly desiring, it isn't something from the Lord, but it is the Lord. We
think we want something from Him, but in reality we just want more of Him. The doesn't say I am
going to give you bread, He says I am the Bread. He doesn't say I am going to show you the
way, He says I am the way. He doesn't say I going to tell you the truth, he says I am the truth.
When you have the Lord, you have it all. We equate having something by what we can see, feel
or touch, but we as Christians live in a different realm, that of seeing what can’t be seen, and
believing it is so.
Biblical Counseling
This is so important for us in Biblical Counseling. People will come to us with their problem, and
we want to help them, we want their problem to go away because we love them. So we work on
helping the problem go away, but we miss giving them Jesus. We as Christians can get wrapped
up in feeding the hungry, clothing the cold, housing the poor, drug addiction help (all good things,
but!) then miss giving them Jesus. The Lord doesn't say Abraham I am going to build you a fort,
instead He says Abraham I am your Shield.
Note: Being Mad at the Lord
I think it is also important to add here, if you are mad at God for something, something you want
but don't have, then you have missed it, you have misses that He is your Great Reward. People
say why don't I have a spouse, why didn't I get that job, why didn't I get that house, and they are
angry with God, then they have truly missed it - God says I am your Exceedingly Great Reward.
(Genesis 15:2 NKJV) But Abram said, "Lord GOD, what will You give me, seeing I go
childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"
(Genesis 15:3 NKJV) Then Abram said, "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed
one born in my house is my heir!"
(Genesis 15:4 NKJV) And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one
shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir."
Abraham still doesn’t Get it / God so Patient / I’m gona Give You a Son
Abraham says, "Yeah, but what good is that?" "I don't have any heir to pass it on to and I have
more than I can ever spend." "I'm childless and my heir is my servant, Eliezer of Damascus, who
was born in my house. I'm not sure Abraham gets it, because he says so what are you going to
give me. We are such Abraham's, the Lord speaks and then we quickly forget, or question His
word. But notice here, God is so patient with Abraham, as he is with us. He answers him. God
doesn't bop him on the head here and say, didn't you just hear me fool? Instead the Lord says
I'm gona give ya a son.
The Lord is ever so kind and patient with us.
(Genesis 15:5 NKJV) Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven,
and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your
descendants be."
(Genesis 15:6 NKJV) And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for
righteousness.
Naked Eye / Exceedingly Abundant
With the naked eye, Abraham would probably see around a thousand stars and go Wow. But the
Word says God will do exceedingly abundant over what we can ever think. The naked eye, 1000
stars, but with a Hubble telescope, about a billion. What we can see so small to what god is
doing in our lives, for He is doing exceedingly abundant what we can think or ask for:
(Ephesians 3:20 NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to
the power that works in us,
Expands to Sands / God Thinks of You / The Silicon Chip
Interestingly God expands this to Abraham in Genesis 22:
(Genesis 22:17 NKJV) "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the
heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
Interestingly scientist now estimate that the sands of the sea are equal to amount of stars in the
universe (science always confirm what the Bible already says). But if you want to be blown away,
God says the sands of the sea are how much he thinks of you, a billion times. But if you want to
really be blown away, and know how much God loves you, so much that He can't stop thinking
about you, that the silicon chip that are in computers are made of sand, and they can now do a
trillion calculations a second. That is how much God is thinking about you. I love telling children
about how much God thinks of them:
(Psalms 139:17 NKJV) How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
(Psalms 139:18 NKJV) If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with
You.
(Genesis 15:6 NKJV) And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for
righteousness.
Bases of Salvation / Galatians / Romans
Verse 6 is the bases of all salvation, both Old Testament saints and New Testament Saints.
Galatians and Romans are commentaries on this verse:
(Galatians 3:5 NKJV) Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the
works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?;
(Galatians 3:6 NKJV) just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
(Galatians 3:7 NKJV) Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
(Galatians 3:16 NKJV) Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of
many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ.
Please Read all of Romans chapter 4 on your own tonight.
(Romans 4:3 NKJV) For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness."
Seed Singular / The Messiah Will Come Through Him / Not Existed / Promises True
God said, "So shall thy seed be." The word for seed is singular "sperma." Paul picks this up in the
third chapter of Galatians and Romans 4 as he talks about this experience of Abraham looking up
into the stars and receiving the promise of God. It is important to note this because the verse
tells us, "And he believed in the LORD; and He counted it to him for righteousness." (Gen.15:6). It
isn't that he just believed that God was going to give him a lot of kids or descendants. It wasn't
seeds, plural. It isn't that he just believed that God existed. Just faith that God exists does not
save; just faith that the promises of God are true does not save; but it is the faith in the Son of
God, Jesus Christ, that brings salvation. The faith that He died for my sins. So, Abraham by faith
believed this promise of God that his "seed" would come. We read in Romans, concerning Jesus,
that He was of the "seed" of Abraham. This is important, because, He was the "promised seed,"
the one that Abraham believed in and because of this, God declared him righteous.
Our Faith / Not Works / Not Law / Not Circumcision
God declares us righteous by the same action of believing in Jesus Christ. Abraham looked
forward and believed the promise of God. We, now, look back at the fulfillment of the promise in
the coming of Jesus Christ. By our believing that Jesus died for our sins, paid the penalty for our
guilt, took our place and was a substitution for us in His death upon the Cross; our faith in His
death and resurrection is accounted to us for righteousness by God. Abraham was not accounted
righteous because of his works, though he had many good works; nor by his keeping of the law,
because it wasn't given yet. He was not accounted righteous by the act of circumcision because
that was not given yet (today’s circumcision is water baptism). We are not accounted righteous
because we keep the rituals of the church or the laws of the church or have good works. We are
accounted righteous when we believe the promise of God through his Son. Salvation would come
to man and that belief in the promise of God concerning the seed that would come, was the thing
that accounted for righteousness.
Nor Perfect Faith / Hagar / Sister
Abraham's faith was not perfect. There were many failures. Even after he believed and God
found him righteous, we find Abraham lapsing in faith when Sarah suggested that he might take
her handmaiden, Hagar, that he might have an heir of his own body. In a few chapters, Abraham
lies to Abimelech about Sarah being his sister and yet, God accounted his faith for righteousness;
even as He accounts your faith for righteousness though it also may be imperfect.
Definition of Righteousness / Clothed Rightly / Fig Leaves / Filthy Rags
Righteous simply means: Right Standing with God. Biblical, we see that it also means "Rightly
Clothed". Do you remember back in the garden, after Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to cover
their guilt and shame with their own works and ideas, they grabbed the Fruit of the Loom Fig
Leaves. They were wrongly clothed, clothed in their own works. But God comes by and takes
life, a lamb, and covers them.
What works does God ask of us for our salvation:
(John 6:28 NKJV) Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"
(John 6:29 NKJV) Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
Believe on Him who He sent and we will be Rightly Clothed, we will be clothed with the Robe of
Righteousness;
(Isaiah 61:10 NKJV) I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the
garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with
ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
What does God consider our works, our designer covering, filthy rags. The word used their for
rags were the one that women used during their menstrual cycle, that is what god likens our
works of salvation.
(Isaiah 64:6 NKJV) But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade
as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
(Genesis 15:7 NKJV) Then He said to him, "I am the LORD, who brought you out of Ur of
the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it."
(Genesis 15:8 NKJV) And he said, "Lord GOD, how shall I know that I will inherit it?"
Still Needs More Assurance / Help my Unbelief / Let Us be Patient
Abraham still wants more assurance, again we can see it wasn’t his perfect faith that accounted
him righteous. Again so much like us. We can take encouragement that even the giants of the
faith, had their struggles and doubt. SO don't get down on yourself when you have your weak
moments of faith. Like the father whose son kept throwing himself in the fire, Jesus said if you
believe all things are possible, and the father said I believe Lord, just help our unbelief:
(Mark 9:22 NKJV) "And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do
anything, have compassion on us and help us."
(Mark 9:23 NKJV) Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
(Mark 9:24 NKJV) Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
Learn this example from the Lord, notice His grace. He doesn't say that is it, I am done with you
Abraham, how much more do I have to put up with. The Lord is ever so patient with Abraham,
ever so kind, ever so loving. We need to be that way with others, be patient with them as they
grow, be kind even when they fail, be gracious and open armed for them, just as the Lord was
with Abraham. Spiritual greatness doesn't happen overnight.
(Genesis 15:9 NKJV) So He said to him, "Bring Me a three-year-old heifer, a three-year-old
female goat, a three-year-old ram, a turtledove, and a young pigeon."
(Genesis 15:10 NKJV) Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the
middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two.
Customary Covenant
The cutting of the animals in half and laying out the carcasses opposite each other was a method
by which a covenant was made. People would make a covenant and to seal it they would cut an
animal in half and lay it out opposite each other and pass between the pieces in a circle eight.
This bound them to the covenant that was made. There is a reference in the 34th chapter of
Jeremiah and the 18th verse, of this covenant that was established by passing through animals.
Abraham is saying, "How shall I know that I shall inherit it?" God says, "I will make a covenant
with you and seal the promise I gave you."
(Jeremiah 34:18 NKJV) 'And I will give the men who have transgressed My covenant, who have not performed the words
of the covenant which they made before Me, when they cut the calf in two and passed between the parts of it;
(Genesis 15:11 NKJV) And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove
them away.
Satan Attacks the Word / Mark 4
The fowls were vultures which are always a sign of evil in the scripture. Remember the seed that
was sown by the wayside and the birds came. We are told in Mark, chapter four:
(Mark 4:14 NKJV) "The sower sows the word.
(Mark 4:15 NKJV) "And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes
immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts.
(Genesis 15:12 NKJV) Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram;
and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him.
(Genesis 15:13 NKJV) Then He said to Abram: "Know certainly that your descendants will
be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four
hundred years.
(Genesis 15:14 NKJV) "And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they
shall come out with great possessions.
Prophecy of Egypt
The LORD is telling Abraham that his descendants are going to go down to Egypt and they will be
afflicted for four hundred years. We know, from the Book of Exodus, that the sojourn in Egypt was
four hundred and thirty years. There are those people who are always looking for some
contradiction in the Bible. Aha! I found one. Read carefully and it says they will be afflicted four
hundred years. The first thirty years they had good treatment because Joseph was next to the
Pharaoh in command. It wasn't until after Joseph died that they began to be afflicted.
(Genesis 15:15 NKJV) "Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be
buried at a good old age.
(Genesis 15:16 NKJV) "But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity
of the Amorites is not yet complete."
After Joseph 400 years of Slavery
We know that it wasn't long after Abraham died that Joseph was sold by his brothers and then he
brought the family of seventy souls down into Egypt. During that sojourn they multiplied and
became a nation in Egypt before God brought them out with a heavy hand into the land.
How Long is a Generation
How long is a biblical generation? Here, in this passage, it is one hundred years. In other
passages we see it as 40 years (Israel in the wilderness), and 70 years in Psalms.
(Numbers 32:13 NKJV) "So the Lord's anger was aroused against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness
forty years, until all the generation that had done evil in the sight of the LORD was gone.
(Psalms 90:9 NKJV) For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh.
(Psalms 90:10 NKJV) The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet
their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away.
Why Important / May 14th / The Fig Tree
So why is this important, on May 14th 1948 Israel was rebirth (see Genesis 12 notes). Read
through the whole Bible and you will see that the "Fig Tree" is a reference to the children and
nation of Israel, and for 2000 years they were without a homeland, but in one day they were born.
God has given us a general time of when He will return, but not a specific year, by doing so, that
was to keep us remaining watchful, that if He doesn't return today, then He will return tomorrow,
and if you ask me tomorrow, I'll say the same thing.
(Matthew 24:32 NKJV) "Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts
forth leaves, you know that summer is near.
(Matthew 24:33 NKJV) "So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near; at the doors!
(Matthew 24:34 NKJV) "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take
place.
If you go to the genealogical records, you will find that Levi, one of the sons of Jacob, was in
Egypt. Moses is the fourth generation from Levi and so, just as the LORD said to Abraham in the
fourth generation; they shall come back into the land again. As they come back, they are going to
wipe out the Amorites; but, the time for the judgment of the Amorites was not fulfilled at the time
of Abraham.
Why 400 Years / Long Suffering / 400 Years of Amorites
Why 400 years, why would God allow the Amorites 400 years before He judges them. God is so
long suffering as He deals with man, I can't understand it. He is so patient that I get upset with
Him sometimes. So often, I say, "Oh Lord, how long are you going to put up with this stuff?" You
read about these people who are exploiting children. You can buy child pornography videos for
three hundred dollars. You can even buy "snuff" videos. These people that do such things and
the people that buy them makes you wonder how long God is going to put up with them. How
violent and wicked can man become before God steps in and judges? Know this that the
judgment of God is coming, though it may seem to be delayed. Here God was patient with the
Amorites, saying, the children of Israel wouldn't come back from Egypt for four hundred years;
because, the iniquity of the Amorites was not yet full.
Cup Being Filled / Misinterpreted / Sodom Saved
We are told in the Book of Revelation that the cup of the indignation of His wrath finally overflows.
The cup is being filled, but, man thinks he is getting by with his wickedness because God has not
intervened. They tragically misinterpret that as: God doesn't see; or God doesn't care; or the most
blasphemous of all, God approves. In one of the parades of the Gay Community, they had a
banner which read, "God is gay." Boy! I'm surprised that God let them get to the end of the
parade. He's so patient and He was giving the Amorites time, another four hundred years in the
land, in order that they might continue until the cup of indignation was full and then His judgment
and His wrath was poured out. As the children of Israel came into the land, they were ordered to
utterly destroy the Amorites. Up until this moment, the iniquity of the world is not yet complete;
but, I don't see how it can go much further. When the cup is full, God will exercise His powerful
judgment on an unsuspecting world.
I might note, who did Abraham rescue besides Lot? All the people of Sodom and Gomorrah. God
in His mercy gives them more time to repent. He is so merciful
(Genesis 15:17 NKJV) And it came to pass, when the sun went down and it was dark, that
behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a burning torch that passed between those
pieces.
(Genesis 15:18 NKJV) On the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying:
"To your descendants I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the
River Euphrates;
(Genesis 15:19 NKJV) "the Kenites, the Kenezzites, the Kadmonites,
(Genesis 15:20 NKJV) "the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
(Genesis 15:21 NKJV) "the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."
God Expands His Covenant / 10%
God expands His covenant with Abraham, the land will be from the Nile river in Egypt, all the way
up to the Euphrates that is in the Iraq and Iran area. Israel at its zenith under King Solomon, still
only help 10% of the land. And today they are being asked to give up more.
Unconditional
God makes His covenant with Abraham, while he slept, and only the Lord walked through it.
Why, because this covenant wasn't predicated on anything that Abraham had to do. It was
unconditional and all based on what God would do.
As it got dark, Abraham saw this burning torch and smoking oven passing between the pieces, as
the covenant was being established. Later on God manifested Himself to the children of Israel in
the "cloud" and the "pillar of fire."
Genesis Chapter 16
The Wait / The God Who Sees
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap 15 / God Confirms His Covenant
We saw last study God reconfirming His covenant, an unconditional covenant, with Abraham.
God promising that Abraham's descendents would number the stars in the heaven:
(Genesis 15:5 NKJV) Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are
able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."
(Genesis 15:6 NKJV) And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Time Passes / Often Gap between Promise & Performance
Time passes, the promise has been given, the covenant has been cut, but we will see Abraham
and Sarah wondering how does this work practically since Sarah's womb is barren. Abraham is
86, Sarah is 76 and barren. Know this beloved, God gives a promise, and will perform His
promise, but often there is a time between the promise and the performance. In this case for
Abraham and Sarah, it will be a 13 year gap until Isaac is born.
Why the Gap? / To Build Faith / Our Efforts / All the Lord
Why is there a gap? Preparation. God is preparing us in the area of faith. He teaches us how to
trust Him, and to continually be looking to Him. If it came immediately we would never need faith.
When the promise is performed, especially after a long gap, then we say, " it was all the Lord".
We will see in Abraham and Sarah's case they were all out of ideas and human efforts, so when it
happened, they would see it was all the Lord. This study we will see their efforts, their attempt to
help God, and we will see how disastrous it was. Lessons for our lives, of trying to help God out.
Faith Muscles / Butterfly
You see the waiting part is the exercise of our "faith muscles". The waiting develops us,
strengthens us, makes us say I know my God will perform all He says he will. Don't despise the
long wait my brethren, for what seems like a struggle is God building faith muscles in us. I read a
story of a man watching a butterfly trying to squeeze through the cocoon. He felt sorry for the
little guy and wanted to help him out so he got a knife and slit the opening so the butterfly slid
right out. But as he was waiting to watch the butterfly fly, it just plopped around for a few minutes
then eventually died in the heat. Why? Because his wings never developed. You see it is as the
butterfly struggles through the tiny opening that the fluid in his body is forced out into his wings,
giving structure development to his wings. If there is no struggle, there is no fluid flow to the
wings, and there is no flight, and eventual death.
Burden is the Lords
As our faith muscles develop, it brings us to the place that we can just rest and know God will
handle it. Faith is ever so freeing, it takes the burden off of us, and places it on God, where it is
suppose to be, and the best part is, nothing can burden God:
(Matthew 11:28 NKJV) "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(Matthew 11:29 NKJV) "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls.
(Matthew 11:30 NKJV) "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
So Abraham and Sarah want to take a shortcut, and get lost along the path.
(Genesis 16:1 NKJV) Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an
Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar.
(Genesis 16:2 NKJV) So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from
bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And
Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.
This was Common Practice of Day – Surrogate Mother
Abraham was eighty-six years old and Sarah was seventy-six years old. Remember when
Abraham went down into Egypt because of the famine in the land? He shouldn't have done that,
because, it was a lapse of faith. He didn't have confidence that God could sustain him in the land;
so, he went down to Egypt. He came back stained and marked. One of the things that they picked
up in Egypt was a handmaiden for Sarah, Hagar, the Egyptian
As strange as this may sound, this was a common practice in that day. It is the equivalent of a
surrogate mother today.
(Genesis 16:3 NKJV) Then Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and
gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land
of Canaan.
(Genesis 16:4 NKJV) So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that
she had conceived, her mistress became despised in her eyes.
Sarah Despises
Verse 4 - her mistress became despised in her eyes. - Hagar became despised, maybe Sarah
became jealous, or insecure (worried that Abraham would be drawn to Hagar instead). Maybe
Sarah had been blaming Abraham, saying he was too old, his sheepskins were too tight, but
when Hagar conceives it is clear, it wasn't Abraham, but her barrenness. Sarah misses the point,
she was barren by the choosing of God for His purposes.
Seeking Natural Means / Always a Mistake
Sarah suggested the use of Hagar, the handmaiden, as a means by which they could help God
perform His promise. They find themselves in the position of seeking natural means to
accomplish the purposes of God. That is always a mistake. How many times we have sought by
natural devices to accomplish the purposes of God and with the same kind of results. We end up
making a total mess out of everything.
God’s Little Helper
Many times I have put myself in the position of God's little helper, to give Him opportunity to work.
I give Him a time deadline. Lord, if you don't do it by this time, I will be forced to do something
myself. Here we find Sarah saying, "Look Abraham, let's give up, it's not going to happen." Let's
help God, you know, He needs our help now."
God’s Broke / Don’t want to Serve God Like That
Have you ever been told that God needs your help? Have you ever watched telethons? God's
program is going to die if you don't help Him. God's on the verge of bankruptcy. His whole work is
going to cease if you don't step in and rescue Him. He's made some very dangerous fiscal
mistakes. He's been irresponsible and now He's about broke. If you want to see His work
continued next week, you'd better respond today and call the 800 number and bail God out of the
problem that He's gotten Himself into again. God needs your help. I wouldn't want to serve that
kind of a God, it would worry me. The minute God needs my help, He's in big trouble. The
opposite is true. I need His help continually. The LORD is my helper.
(Genesis 16:5 NKJV) Then Sarai said to Abram, "My wrong be upon you! I gave my maid
into your embrace; and when she saw that she had conceived, I became despised in her
eyes. The LORD judge between you and me."
Can you picture Abraham here, whaaat? I was just listening to you, why are you upset with me?
Result – Problem Family & for History
The resultant of listening to Sarah instead of waiting upon the Lord, a problem for the family, and
a problem for history. From Hagar Ishmael will be born, and become the father of the Arab
people who will be a thorn in Israel's side forever. Just this week 13 Israeli soldiers were killed by
Arabs in the Gaza strip.
Expedient – not - Obedient
Sarah's proposal was expedient, but it wasn't obedient:
• It was logical,
• it was culturally acceptable,
• it even had merit intellectually,
• but ultimately it turned out to be a mess.
Didn’t Seek / If Don’t know then Don’t
They didn't seek the Lord, ask the Lord, is this the right thing to do. This is obvious application for
all of us, take everything to the Lord in prayer and ask Him what does He want for you in this
situation. And as I always say, be willing to wait for your answer; if you don't hear, then don't (of
course if the Word says to do something, then do it).
Abe had Grown / Forgot Egypt / Shield & Reward
Abraham had shown such signs of growth and maturity in your dealing with Lot (knowing you'd
get the best no matter what), but Abraham quickly forgets, or should I say 13 years allows him to
forget the promise of God - Fear not Abraham for I am you shield and exceedingly great reward.
Abraham forgets the last time he didn't seek the Lord, he ended up in Egypt almost killed by the
Pharaoh. And now here he is ready to make the same mistake.
Parents – Develop in Our Kids
Obvious application for us, we covered that in the past studies, but again, if you don't know, then
don't. But parents, lets look at this from another view. Seeking the Lord on what to do, is what
we want to develop in our children also. Guess what, we will see Isaac making the same
mistakes his father Abraham made.
Transferring the Relationship
Wayne is now 10, and I am at the point now that I am starting a transfer process. I am now
transferring this from him living my relationship with the Lord, to it being his relationship with the
Lord. When we have our morning devotion, I don't read and tell him what the passage means,
rather I let him read to me and when he is done I ask him, "so what is going on here in these
verses? I let him tell me, I let the Lord reveal to him, speak to him, through the word. It is after
that, that I add more to his understanding. Now, as we live life, and he is faced with life
decisions, I am pulling away from telling everything he should do, and asking him, what do you
think it is that the Lord wants you to do? Sometimes it even comes down to, "that is something
that only the Lord can tell you." In hard situations I will say, lets pray, lets give this to the Lord,
teaching him to seek the Lord for all his answers, than seeking man, or just running off to do it
before he sought the Lord. I know it is hard parents, we are so use to tell them what the do, but
at some point (and only the Lord can tell you that point) we must start that transfer of "whose
relationship is it."
(Genesis 16:6 NKJV) So Abram said to Sarai, "Indeed your maid is in your hand; do to her
as you please." And when Sarai dealt harshly with her, she fled from her presence.
(Genesis 16:7 NKJV) Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the
wilderness, by the spring on the way to Shur.
(Genesis 16:8 NKJV) And He said, "Hagar, Sarai's maid, where have you come from, and
where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from the presence of my mistress Sarai."
(Genesis 16:9 NKJV) The Angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress, and
submit yourself under her hand."
(Genesis 16:10 NKJV) Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your
descendants exceedingly, so that they shall not be counted for multitude."
(Genesis 16:11 NKJV) And the Angel of the LORD said to her: "Behold, you are with child,
And you shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, Because the LORD has heard
your affliction.
(Genesis 16:12 NKJV) He shall be a wild man; His hand shall be against every man, And
every man's hand against him. And he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren."
(Genesis 16:13 NKJV) Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-
the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?"
(Genesis 16:14 NKJV) Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; observe, it is between
Kadesh and Bered.
The Angel of the Lord – A Theopany
Verse 6 - "And the angel of the LORD..." Now this is the first time the angel of the LORD is
mentioned in the Old Testament. We will find the angel of the LORD appearing many times in the
Old Testament and many bible scholars believe that this reference to the angel of the LORD is a
Theophany (or Christophany). In most cases the angel of the LORD is none other than Jesus
Christ appearing in a form to man. In this first mention of the "Angel of the Lord" here, it is clearly
God who is the Angel of the Lord. Verse 13 is indisputable, the God who sees.
Who Appears to? / A Fugitive
No to me the appearance of Melchizedek in chapter 14 is clearly Jesus, but some will debate
that. However, it is indisputable here, and notice who He appears to - a fugitive, a woman (which
were considered 2nd class citizens in the mentality of that time). He appears to a woman who
was running away from her owner - she was a runaway slave, she was running from the family of
faith, the family that knew the Lord. She was running away with Abraham and Sarah's child.
God interested in the 1 - 99
If you think that God is upset with you, has cast you off, maybe because you have been running
the other way, in disobedience, look at this story. Don't ever think that God is only interested in
the giants of faith. It is the person that feels that they have no where to go, no hope, running and
not knowing where they are going, that is who He comes to, that is whom He sees. It is the one
lost sheep that He goes after:
(Matthew 18:11 NKJV) "For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.
(Matthew 18:12 NKJV) "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not
leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying?
(Matthew 18:13 NKJV) "And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the
ninety-nine that did not go astray.
God Sees / God Seeks
If you are a Hagar today, God Sees! Notice verse 13, He saw her, before she saw Him. She
wasn't looking for God, but God came and sought her out. That is our story, for there are none
righteous, no not one, there are none that seeks after Him
(Romans 3:10 NKJV) As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
(Romans 3:11 NKJV) There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God.
(Romans 3:12 NKJV) They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does
good, no, not one."
Hagar Submits
Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life. Notice verse 9, God tells her what to do,
go back to Sarah. You know that is not what Hagar wanted to hear, but she did it anyways. Hagar
isn’t submitting to Sarah, she is submitting to the Lord. We must apply that in our understanding
of submitting. She submitted, and God blesses her for it. I believe (personal opinion) we will see
Hagar in heaven.
(Genesis 16:15 NKJV) So Hagar bore Abram a son; and Abram named his son, whom
Hagar bore, Ishmael.
(Genesis 16:16 NKJV) Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Through Hagar – Arab nation / God Preserves Hagar
Through Hagar came Ishmael, through Ishmael (verse 12 he will be a wild man) comes the Arab
nation. Do you see a major point here? God could have let Hagar die there in the wilderness,
and let the Arab nation never begin, prevented the people who would torment God's chosen
people, the children of Israel, but He didn't. Why didn't, because He is God, and that is His
character of love. He seeks to save the lost, He wishes that none should perish but all seek
repentance. Before God there is neither Jew nor Gentile.
None Perish / Neither Jew nor Greek
(2 Peter 3:9 NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward
us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
(Galatians 3:28 NKJV) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
(Galatians 3:29 NKJV) And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
God Loves the Arab People
Nothing has changes in these 4,000 years. God loves the Arab people. How I wish they would
read this chapter and consider it. That they would see a God who loves them, who came to seek
out the mother of their nation, and called her to himself.
Shur – the Wall / See the True & Living God
Ohh if only they would see, the God who sees. It is interesting that God found Hagar on the way
to Shur, which means, "wall" (verse 7). For that is what is happening to the Arab people, there is
a wall up that is keeping them from seeing the True and Living God. It is important for each and
every Christian to see that this is what is happening, that they are blinded by the walls that are up
before the Arab people. We need to be in prayer for them, that their eyes may be open to the
Gospel. Pray for the missionaries that in the Muslim regions, and support them anyway we can.
Franklin Graham and his group are making inroads into the Muslim regions there in Iraq and
Afghanistan, many Muslims are saying "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?" War is
terrible, but salvation has come to many because of this war on terrorism. Many eyes that were
blinded by the wall before them, now see, are being found at the spring of water:
(Genesis 16:7 NKJV) Now the Angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, by the spring on the
way to Shur.
(John 4:13 NKJV) Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
(John 4:14 NKJV) "but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him
will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
Genesis Chapter 17
Genesis 17:1-5 – Be Ye Blameless / A New Name
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap 16 / 13 yrs / Exceedingly Great Reward / Promised own Child
The last time God spoke to Abraham, he was eighty-six years old. There has been an intervening
time of thirteen years. When he was eighty-six years old, he was complaining to God that, even
though He had blessed him with great wealth, he had no heir to leave the wealth to. His chief
servant, Eliezer, was the one who would be in line to inherit all the wealth that God had given to
him. God had said to Abraham, "I'm your exceeding great reward," and Abraham had said, "Yes,
but, I don't have anybody to leave it to except my servant, born in my house." The LORD had said
that Eliezer would not be his heir, but one from his own body would be the heir. Then God took
Abraham outside and showed him the stars and said, "So shall thy seed be." Abraham believed
God and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Lapse of Faith / Hagar / The God who Sees
Immediately after this, there was a lapse of faith in Abraham’s life. He took Hagar, the Egyptian
handmaiden of Sarah, to be his wife and she conceived and bore Ishmael. When she became
pregnant, she began to despise her mistress, Sarah. Then Sarah tried to put the blame on
Abraham, although she was the one who suggested it. Abraham told Sarah to do with Hagar what
she pleased and she was driven out. Hagar started back to Egypt and met the LORD at the well
called "Beer-lahai-roi." (Genesis 16:13 NKJV) Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke
to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?".
He sent her back to Sarah and told her to submit herself to her mistress. The LORD said that she
would bare a son and his name would be called "Ishmael" and that he would multiply her seed
exceedingly. We also saw how much god loves the Arab people.
Retest / Open Book
Abraham had failed his test of faith miserably with the whole Hagar thing, but the good news
about God's test He gives us, if we fail them, we get to take them over. Also, all of God's test He
gives us are "open book" test. The answers are right before us, all we have to do is apply them.
So now chapter 17, retest time.
(Genesis 17:1 NKJV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to
Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
13 yrs of Silence / Human Impossibility
God is silent during a thirteen-year period and then when Abraham is ninety-nine years old, the
LORD speaks to him. God is speaking to Abraham again to inform him that Ishmael is not the
child that He had promised to give him. God said He would give him a son through Sarah. In
Romans 4:19 it declares:
(Romans 4:19 NKJV) And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a
hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.
(Romans 4:20 NKJV) He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory
to God,
(Romans 4:21 NKJV) and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.
(Romans 4:22 NKJV) And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness."
The indication was that Abraham had become impotent. The deadness of Sarah's womb is a
statement of the fact that she had gone beyond the age of a woman bearing children. God waited
until Abraham couldn't do anything about the promise himself. God didn't want Abraham trying to
fulfill the promises in his own strength or capacity. He allowed Abraham to get to the place, where
it was impossible for him to do anything concerning the fulfillment of the promise; it would take an
absolute miracle of God for the promise to be fulfilled. God allowed him to get to the place of
human impossibility.
We Reach End / Cry for Help / Then take Credit
Many times as God works with us, He does this very same thing to us. He allows us to come to
the end of our resources or to that place of hopelessness, before He works. When God works, He
wants the glory for what He has done. When He works in your life, He doesn't want you boasting
that you have done this marvelous work.
Paul said to the Corinthians:
(1 Corinthians 4:7 NKJV) For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if
you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
We're so prone to take credit for God's work. We cry out to God for help and when He helps us,
we take the credit for it. When we relate stories of the victories and goodness of God, we often
put ourselves in it. It's because of "my" trust and "my" faith that it worked out. God honored "my"
consecration. So, God lets us get into those situations where we are completely desperate, then
He works and there is no way we can boast that we did it. The glory all belongs to God and He
won't share it with man.
Everybody Serves / Stay Humble
I make this point again, because it is our ministry principle "Everybody Serves". We believe it is
God's call for everyone to be serving in the ministry in some form or fashion. So with that comes
the challenge of taking credit for what God has done. If you want to serve a death sentence to
the ministry you are involved in, then steal God's glory. But if you want to watch God work
beyond your wildest dream, stay humble.
El Shaddai / Might & Nurture
And so the Lord appeared to Abraham and told him that He was the Almighty God or El Shaddai.
This is the first mention of "El Shaddai", "Almighty God" in the Bible. "El" comes from the word
that means "the strong arm". It is a word for masculine might. It gives the picture of a mighty
God saying I will see you through, I will uphold you. The word "shad" is breast in Hebrew and is
the place of life and nourishment for the babe. So, God is telling Abraham that He is the place of
his life and nourishment and that Abraham is dependent upon Him.
Before / With / After / In
There are four different prepositions used for the walk of God.
• Here in Genesis 17:1 God told Abraham to walk "before" Him.
(Genesis 17:1 NKJV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I
am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
• We read earlier in Genesis 5:22, that Enoch walked "with" God:
(Genesis 5:22 NKJV) After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons
and daughters.
(Genesis 5:23 NKJV) So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.
(Genesis 5:24 NKJV) And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.
• In Deuteronomy 13:4, God told Israel to walk "after" the Lord:
(Deuteronomy 13:4 NKJV) "You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His
commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.
• In Colossians 2:6, Paul says, walk "in" Him:
(Colossians 2:6 NKJV) As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,
There are four different prepositions used for the walk of God.
• Walking "before" God is walking in His presence, conscious that God is watching me,
looking out for me, and caring for me.
• Walking "after" God is the position of the servant. When God tells Israel to walk after Him,
He is actually telling them to serve Him.
• Walking "with" God, as Enoch and Noah, indicates that beautiful communion and
fellowship as we walk with God.
• Walking "in" Him signifies that complete union and oneness that is ours with God. Christ
in me, the hope of glory!
Walk Before / How - Blameless / Be Perfect - Sermon on Mt
Walk before "Me," How? "...Be thou perfect," or blameless. God's ideal requirement for man is
perfection and you wouldn't really expect anything less from God. I'm not surprised that God
would require me to be perfect, but I would be shocked if He said to be slipshod or cruddy. That
would not be in the keeping with the nature of God. God would not require anything less then
perfection and you should always know that this is God's ideal for you, "Walk before me, and be
thou perfect." When Jesus finished the Sermon on the Mount, He again required the same thing:
(Matthew 5:48 KJV) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
When you tell me that God requires me to be perfect, I would say, "Thank you, but I can't." "I
would love to, I have tried to, but I am far from perfect." "I would love to fulfill God's divine ideal,
but I can't."
Missing Mark / Son Fulfills the Requirement
Sin has as its root meaning "missing the mark" and the Bible says all have sinned. A lot of people
get upset when you say, "Well, you're a sinner, man," and they will say, "Just a minute!" "I'm not
too bad." "I do what I can." "I help little ladies across the street." But, wait! What is the mark? It's
perfection. Have you missed that mark? Is there anyone who can say, "I'm perfect?" Because
man could not fulfill God's divine requirement, He sent His only begotten Son; who took our sins
(our missing of the mark) and died in our place so that God's actual requirement for me now;
because, I'm not perfect and could not be perfect, is that I believe in His Son whom He sent.
John 6:28 - the Work of God
In the Gospel of John, when the people came to Capernaum seeking for Jesus, they asked Him
this question:
(John 6:28 NKJV) Then they said to Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?"
(John 6:29 NKJV) Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent."
So, God's actual requirement of me today is that I believe in Jesus Christ. By my believing in Him,
God accounts me righteous.
Paul's Attempt - the Law / Christ / Pressing Towards the Mark
Paul the Apostle said, as he talked about his past life and how he attempted to keep the law of
God and his accomplishments as a legalistic Jew:
(Philippians 3:7 NKJV) But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.
(Philippians 3:8 NKJV) Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ
(Philippians 3:9 NKJV) and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is
through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
That "believing faith," in Christ, is the faith by which God accounts me righteous. Does that mean
that God's giving up on you and that you'll never be perfect? No, the whole idea of walking "in"
Christ is that now I might receive that power of the indwelling Spirit of God to conform me into the
image of Christ and to bring me into that ideal requirement. As Paul the Apostle said,
(Philippians 3:12 NKJV) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of
that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Now, there are some people who believe in, what they call, "Sinless Perfection" and there are
those who claim they have attained it. Maybe you come from that school and would say that you
have attained "Sinless Perfection." I have talked to a few of these people and as I challenged
them, they got angry with me. There went their "Sinless Perfection."
Paul said:
(Philippians 3:13 NKJV) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
(Philippians 3:14 NKJV) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Paul was pressing toward perfection. So the LORD appeared to Abraham and told him that He
was God Almighty, and to walk before Him blameless. The power, of walking before Him
blameless, comes to us through walking "in" Jesus Christ.
Abraham Challenged at 99
I like this, Abraham is 99 years old, but God doesn't say ok time to relax, time to retire; rather God
says OK lets step it up, lets go to a higher plane. No matter what age you are at, God wants to
take you higher in your walk with Him. He is 99 and God says be perfect.
Side Note
I also might add, Abraham is going to be 100 when he has Isaac, and he will have to train him up
in the ways of the Lord. I say that to say this, there is no retiring form the service of the Lord. As
long as there is someone in this world who does not know Jesus, then there is ministry to be
done. Pastor Chuck said he was considering retiring, people kept asking him when, so he
struggled with that of whether to or not. Then he was with Billy Graham one day (who is older
than him) and he asked Billy if he planned on retiring. Billy Graham said as long as I am able, I
will preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Pastor Chuck said, all-right! That was 20 years ago.
Consider how many people have come into the kingdom in the last 20 years of these men's
ministries.
How About You / Be Ye Blameless / El Shaddai / We become Aware
Maybe you have been walking with the Lord for some time now, you have quit the cursing,
drunkenness, fornication, pornography, your temper has eased, your tongue slowed, and maybe
you feel like you are doing well, really matured. At 99, the Lord says to Abraham, walk before
me, be ye blameless. If Abraham had been feeling good about his walk at this time, he had to be
taken down. He had to hear the Lords words and they would pierce his heart, be ye blameless!
And areas of his life that he knew he was not being blameless in, would flood before him, and He
would realize I am standing in the presence of EL Shaddai, God Almighty. Anytime we come into
the presence of the Almighty God we are immediately faced with our sinfulness, thankful of
Savior, but aware of our need for change.
General Sinner / Specific Sinner
I have no problem agreeing that I am a sinner. We all are, it is easy for me to tell you I am a
sinner. But it is easy only when I am talking about being a “general sinner”, a sinner in general.
But let the Lord put His finger on a specific sin in my life, and things change. When He does that
I am floored. But Lord I thought I was doing so good, Lord I am a leader in the church, in my
home, how can this be. It doesn’t take much for me to imagine how devastating this word from
the Lord was to Abraham, “be ye perfect”. For I know it floors me.
James 1:22 - The Mirror of the Word
As I look at this verse, I have to ask myself, as I look into the mirror of the Word (see Notes on
James 1:22 Study - The Test to the Response of the Word):
(James 1:22 NKJV) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
(James 1:23 NKJV) For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a
mirror;
(James 1:24 NKJV) for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
(James 1:25 NKJV) But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a
doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
I have to ask myself how am I doing with sin in my life, my stewardship of what He has given, my
service to Him, and my time. Be blameless, how often do I consider that is my calling, the bar.
We can forget that He is "the Almighty God", and that leads us to forget the call to be blameless.
We can enter into worship week in and week out and forget that He is "El Shaddai", God
Almighty.
We need a verse like this on a regular basis. Not so that we can mark it in our Bible, but that the
Bible can mark us. That I will slow down my thoughts and dwell on this verse, and let it examine
me. Abraham in verse 3 falls on his face, and he is actually silent for a moment.
Walk in Him
The only hope for Abraham and us, is our fourth preposition, "walk in Him".
(Genesis 17:2 NKJV) "And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply
you exceedingly."
(Genesis 17:3 NKJV) Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:
(Genesis 17:4 NKJV) "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a
father of many nations.
(Genesis 17:5 NKJV) "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be
Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.
5th Letter / No longer Walking After the Flesh / New Dimension of Life
God inserts the 5th letter of the Hebrew alphabet in the middle of Abram's name (Sarai also), the
letter "H". As He changed the name of Abram to Abraham, He made a new covenant with him
(Genesis 17:10), the Covenant of Circumcision; whereby, the cutting off of the flesh signifying that
Abraham should no longer walk after the flesh but that he might be a spiritual man and walk after
the Spirit. So, the change of Abraham's name was very significant. He added the "H" or the Spirit
and thus God brought them into this new dimension of life. The Lord adds a simple "h" to the
name, insignificant at first glance, but powerful at second.
Ruach / Said with a Breath / Spirit
God inserted the Hebrew Letter "H" into the name of Abram and the letter "H" is made with the
sound of breath. The word "ruach" means "breath or spirit" and so God inserted the spirit into the
name of Abram. The Hebrew word for Spirit is ruwach, roo'-akh; it meant wind; by resemblance
breath. ruwach in the Hebrew is a word spoke with just a breath, the "h". When God breaths His
breathe in you, it's just a breath, an "h" that changes you forever.
Also a Fire
This wind, is also a fire; that when allowed will consume all those things that keep us from setting
our mind on the things above, that allow Christ in us, the hope of glory to rule and reign in my life
in all situations and circumstances.
Search for Him / We Search our Heart
I like what Herod said in Matt 2:8 Go and search carefully for the child.
(Matthew 2:8 NKJV) And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when
you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also."
When man searches for Christ, he is not seeking Him like a lost coin, rather what he is searching
is his very heart, and he sees a need for a Savor, and it is there that we find life.
God With Us / God in US
Immanuel, "God with Us". For God with us - Immanuel, becomes God in us, as the Spirit of the
living God takes residence in us:
(1 Corinthians 3:16 NKJV) Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
A New name in Heaven
We will receive a new name in heaven, I wonder if it our name now, with an "h" added to it.
(Revelation 2:17 NKJV) "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I
will give some of the hidden manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which
no one knows except him who receives it."'
When God Breathes - We are Changed Forever
When God breathes His Spirit into us, we are changed forever. We need this "h", this Spirit in our
life so we have the power to walk the walk He has called us to. Like Sara and Abraham, we are
barren and impotent without the "H", the Spirit of God living in us.
Genesis 17:6-27
The Abrahamic Covenant Summation / The Covenant of Circumcision
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap 16 / 13 yrs / Exceedingly Great Reward / Promised own Child
The last time God spoke to Abraham, he was eighty-six years old. There has been an intervening
time of thirteen years. When he was eighty-six years old, he was complaining to God that, even
though He had blessed him with great wealth, he had no heir to leave the wealth to. His chief
servant, Eliezer, was the one who would be in line to inherit all the wealth that God had given to
him. God had said to Abraham, "I'm your exceeding great reward," and Abraham had said, "Yes,
but, I don't have anybody to leave it to except my servant, born in my house." The LORD had said
that Eliezer would not be his heir, but one from his own body would be the heir. Then God took
Abraham outside and showed him the stars and said, "So shall thy seed be." Abraham believed
God and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Lapse of Faith / Hagar / The God who Sees
Immediately after this, there was a lapse of faith in Abraham’s life. He took Hagar, the Egyptian
handmaiden of Sarah, to be his wife and she conceived and bore Ishmael. When she became
pregnant, she began to despise her mistress, Sarah. Then Sarah tried to put the blame on
Abraham, although she was the one who suggested it. Abraham told Sarah to do with Hagar what
she pleased and she was driven out. Hagar started back to Egypt and met the LORD at the well
called "Beer-lahai-roi." (Genesis 16:13 NKJV) Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke
to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?".
He sent her back to Sarah and told her to submit herself to her mistress. The LORD said that she
would bare a son and his name would be called "Ishmael" and that he would multiply her seed
exceedingly. We also saw how much god loves the Arab people.
New Name for Abraham
He had to hear the Lords words and they would pierce his heart, be ye blameless! And areas of
his life that he knew he was not being blameless in, would flood before him, and He would realize
I am standing in the presence of EL Shaddai, God Almighty. Anytime we come into the presence
of the Almighty God we are immediately faced with our sinfulness, thankful of Savior, but aware
of our need for change. God inserted the Hebrew Letter "H" into the name of Abram and the
letter "H" is made with the sound of breath. The word "ruach" means "breath or spirit" and so God
inserted the spirit into the name of Abram. The Hebrew word for Spirit is ruwach, roo'-akh; it
meant wind; by resemblance breath. ruwach in the Hebrew is a word spoke with just a breath, the
"h". When God breaths His breathe in you, it's just a breath, an "h" that changes you forever.
Abrahamic Covenant:
(Genesis 17:1 NKJV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to
Abram and said to him, "I am Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
(Genesis 17:2 NKJV) "And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply
you exceedingly."
(Genesis 17:3 NKJV) Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:
(Genesis 17:4 NKJV) "As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a
father of many nations.
(Genesis 17:5 NKJV) "No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be
Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.
(Genesis 17:6 NKJV) "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you,
and kings shall come from you.
(Genesis 17:7 NKJV) "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your
descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you
and your descendants after you.
(Genesis 17:8 NKJV) "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which
you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their
God."
4 Things to See in this Covenant Summation:
• The Principle
• The People
• The Period
• The Place
Principle / Grace
Verse 6, The Principle:
(Genesis 17:6 NKJV) "I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.
The principle is grace. 24 times God says to Abraham, "I will". In Genesis 15, we saw that it
wasn't until Abraham fell asleep that God walked in-between the heifer that was cut-in-two. God
walks it alone (usually they met in the middle) to make the point that the covenant is
unconditional, totally dependent on His faithfulness, and not Abraham's. All that Abraham had to
do was claim the promise, not keep the promise. God's unmerited favor on the infinitely ill
deserving. It is God's Riches at Christ's Expense.
People / All Descendants
Verse 7, The People:
(Genesis 17:7 NKJV) "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their
generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
The Covenant is not just between God and Abraham, but God and Abraham's descendants. Why
is that important today, because it gives the right of the land of Israel to Abraham's descendants.
Period / Forever
Verse 7, The Period:
(Genesis 17:7 NKJV) "And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their
generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
The Covenant is an everlasting one. Forever and ever.
(Ezekiel 11:17 NKJV) "Therefore say, 'Thus says the Lord GOD: "I will gather you from the peoples, assemble you from
the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel."'
Why is this important today, for some of the Palestinians (Yassar Arafat) will claim that Israel
gave up the land when they were driven out of the land. Ezekiel 11 says that the land will be
yours even after you are scattered.
Place / Israel
Verse 8, The Place:
(Genesis 17:8 NKJV) "Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land
of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God."
How much land, all the Land! Not half of the Temple Mount, not to the Jordan river but to the
Euphrates river. All the land, from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. 300,000 square miles.
The Covenant of Circumcision
(Genesis 17:9 NKJV) And God said to Abraham: "As for you, you shall keep My covenant,
you and your descendants after you throughout their generations.
(Genesis 17:10 NKJV) "This is My covenant which you shall keep, between Me and you
and your descendants after you: Every male child among you shall be circumcised;
(Genesis 17:11 NKJV) "and you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskins, and it
shall be a sign of the covenant between Me and you.
(Genesis 17:12 NKJV) "He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every
male child in your generations, he who is born in your house or bought with money from
any foreigner who is not your descendant.
(Genesis 17:13 NKJV) "He who is born in your house and he who is bought with your
money must be circumcised, and My covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting
covenant.
(Genesis 17:14 NKJV) "And the uncircumcised male child, who is not circumcised in the
flesh of his foreskin, that person shall be cut off from his people; he has broken My
covenant."
A Sign - A Token / Not My Choice
God is saying to Abraham, now I am going to give you a sign, a token, of the covenant. I would
have been thinking something along the line of a bright burning star in the heavens, or something
like it would rain on the first Monday of every month followed by a rainbow, I wouldn't have been
thinking circumcision, especially at 99 years of age.
Signifies Cutting Off the Flesh / Live a Life After the Spirit
God established this covenant with Abraham. It was to be marked by circumcision, which
signified not to live or walk after the flesh. The cutting off of the life of the flesh in order that you
might live the life of the Spirit. God said if they would not have the rite of circumcision then they
were to be cut off from being the people of God. You can not be a man of God and walk after the
flesh. It is only as you walk after the Spirit that you are truly a man of God.
In Time to Come - National Life
In time to come, the child that was born was not considered a Jew until he was circumcised. You
weren't a Jew by natural birth, but became a Jew the day you were circumcised. That was the rite
by which you entered into national life. It indicates that you are to walk after the Spirit
Why Circumcision / Very Delicate
But why did God choose circumcision? Because God wanted this covenant (this cutting off the
flesh and living after the Spirit) to be very sensitive, very delicate. Obviously this is the most
sensitive and delicate area of the flesh.
Be Ye Perfect / Be Sensitive of Every Sin / No Sin Ranking
The Lord was saying to Abraham, I've given you a new name, I placed my ruach (spirit) within
you, now walk before me, be ye perfect, no longer live after the flesh, but the Spirit, for I am
Almighty God. God wants the things of the flesh to be very sensitive to us. Give me a tattoo on
my shoulder (a little uncomfortable), pierce my ear or tongue (a little more uncomfortable), but
circumcision my knees quiver. The Lord is saying every work of your flesh is to be sensitive to
you as you walk before me. Let every thing of your flesh be a big deal, there is no ranking of sin
in your life (see study in James on The Test of the Law). God is Holy, and His Holiness is too
pure to look upon wickedness (Hab 1:13). Abraham! I am Almighty God, Walk Before Me, Be Ye
Perfect
Works of Flesh
What are the works of the flesh:
(Galatians 5:19 NKJV) Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,
(Galatians 5:20 NKJV) idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies,
(Galatians 5:21 NKJV) envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also
told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Works of Spirit
What are the works of the Spirit:
(Galatians 5:22 NKJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
(Galatians 5:23 NKJV) gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
(Galatians 5:24 NKJV) And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
(Galatians 5:25 NKJV) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Continual Reminder
Circumcision was to be a continual reminder to the Jewish people that they were different from
the rest of the world. It was a continual reminder to be pure and holy before the Lord. To live a
life after the Spirit.
Baptism - The Sequel / Burying the Flesh / Beginning a New Life in the Spirit
The sequel of circumcision in the New Testament is water baptism and the significance is the
exact same thing. Water baptism signifies the death of the life after the flesh and a life governed
by the flesh. There is the burying of everything that was done in that life of the flesh and the
beginning of the new life in the Spirit. The resurrection and the newness of life in Christ Jesus to
walk now after the Spirit as you come up out of the waters or out of the grave
Wasted Ritual
Both baptism and circumcision can just become a ritual, and both would be a waste if the heart
isn't right. When we get to the New Testament, Paul begins to show the folly of trusting in a
ritual. He says in Romans, Chapter 2:
(Romans 2:25 NKJV) For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your
circumcision has become uncircumcision.
(Romans 2:26 NKJV) Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his
uncircumcision be counted as circumcision?
(Romans 2:27 NKJV) And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written
code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law?
(Romans 2:28 NKJV) For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh;
(Romans 2:29 NKJV) but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the
letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
God Interested in Your Heart / Rite into National Life / Christian Life
God is interested that your heart is after the Spirit and not after the flesh. Circumcision doesn't
avail a man anything if he is not walking and living after the Spirit. If God accounts the walk after
the Spirit as true circumcision, then it isn't the fleshly rite that does anything; therefore, the
gentiles, who are not circumcised, are considered the people of God because in their heart there
is that circumcision and walking after the things of the Spirit. It is a rite of the Jews by which they
entered into the national life and became a Jew. Many Christians think the same about baptism,
that it is rite which they enter into Christian life.
Abraham Righteous because he Believed
It is important to note that Abraham wasn't accounted righteous before the Lord because of
circumcision, but because he believed:
(Romans 4:10 NKJV) How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised,
but while uncircumcised.
(Romans 4:11 NKJV) And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had
while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that
righteousness might be imputed to them also,
We are Righteous By Faith
The same is true for us, and we are sealed not by baptism, but by the Holy Spirit when we believe
on the Lord for salvation:
(Ephesians 1:13 NKJV) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom
also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
Note
Interesting Notes:
Verse 12 - performed on the eighth day: No explanation was given why the eighth day was
specified for circumcision, but medical research now shows that the blood-clotting element
Vitamin K rises to an adequate level at the 8th day.
Back in the turn of the 19th century, in NYC they noticed that Jewish woman had a lower rate of
cervical cancer than non-Jewish woman. Upon further study they found it was because Jewish
woman only married Jewish males and the males were circumcised, and carried less bacteria
than the uncircumcised.
Does a Christian need to be circumcised today, No, and praise the Lord:
(Philippians 3:3 NKJV) For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no
confidence in the flesh,
(Genesis 17:15 NKJV) Then God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you shall not
call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name.
The Breath of God
Sarah gets a name change just like Abraham did earlier in this chapter (refer back to last study).
Just a simple "h", but the breath of God that would change her forever. She goes from Sarai,
which means "contentious", to Sarah, which means "princess."
(Genesis 17:16 NKJV) "And I will bless her and also give you a son by her; then I will
bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall be from her."
(Genesis 17:17 NKJV) Then Abraham fell on his face and laughed, and said in his heart,
"Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is
ninety years old, bear a child?"
(Genesis 17:18 NKJV) And Abraham said to God, "Oh, that Ishmael might live before
You!"
(Genesis 17:19 NKJV) Then God said: "No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you
shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting
covenant, and with his descendants after him.
That Ishmael Might Live / Bless This Mess / Too Much Invested - Relationships - Biz
Ishmael, the outcome of Sarah and Abraham trying to help the Lord out, their fleshly endeavor to
make things happen. Abraham says ohh that Ishmael might live. In other words, ohh bless this
mess. God abandon your plan and join mine. We do that, we enter into something that wasn't of
the Lord, and it goes amiss, but we don't cut it lose. We feel that we have too much time or
money invested in it and we keep trying to keep it alive and going. I see this over and over in
relationships. The dating relationship is not of the Lord, but the two people keep trying to keep it
going because after all I've invested 8 months of my life in it. I've seen Christians do this in
business ventures. There is a place to say, God's not in it, maybe He never was in it, and it is
time to let it go and start something new.
I Like Things As They Are / I Comprehend This
Abraham was also saying I like things as they are, this isn't so bad. Ishmael is 13 now, he is my
son, I love him. Lets work with what we got. I have it all figured out this way, my intellect can
comprehend this, my finite mind can't figure out how you are going to work this "Isaac" thing out.
The Impossible / God's Glory / My Wretchedness
God is saying I am not going to bless your mess for I am going to do something that is so
impossible, that all will say and know that it was only Me, and all glory will go to Me. Why does
God want all the glory, is it because He is egocentric? No, because eternal life comes from His
glory. It wasn't man's glory that brought me to Christ, it was the glory of God, and the
wretchedness of my sin, that made me cry out for His forgiveness.
(Genesis 17:20 NKJV) "And as for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him,
and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall beget twelve princes,
and I will make him a great nation.
(Genesis 17:21 NKJV) "But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear
to you at this set time next year."
(Genesis 17:22 NKJV) Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from Abraham.
Ishmael's Descendants / A Sobering Thought
Verse 20 - In Genesis 25 we will read of Ishmael's descendants, there are 12 princes, even as
there are 12 tribes of Israel. They are a mighty people, and they are a continual problem to the
Jewish people today. This is a sobering thought to me. It makes me realize how much better it is
to let the Lord lead and guide my life. It makes me realize how I should take everything to the
Lord in prayer, seeking His directing on all matters. The problems always start when I start
demanding, dictating, and advising the Lord on what and how I want it done.
The Conversation is Over
Verse 22, I find this verse so interesting, Then He finished talking with him, and God went up from
Abraham. It could read God ceased talking, as in, this subject is over, we are not talking any
more over it; and if that is the case, then application for us, there is a time when God quits talking
to us about a subject, and He wants us to do it or believe it. God is saying there are no
negotiations, no more pleading, I have spoken, it is settled. We do well to recognize that. God
said it, that settles it, so there is no need to keep trying to talk God into seeing it our way or doing
it our way, but for us just start putting God's plan into action or waiting for God to put His plan in
action.
A Word Only for You
Or, verse 22 could mean that they Abraham and the Lord talked more, but it is not recorded here
of what they talked about. It was just between Abraham and God. There are things that God
speaks to us that are only for us (of course they never contradict the Word). God gives us things
that are only for us, and if/when we try to explain them to other people, we can't convey it
properly, or they can't understand our point. The reason is that it was just for us, form the Lord.
Don't worry about it, it doesn't matter if they get it, you got it, and it was meant for you specifically
form the Lord.
(Genesis 17:23 NKJV) So Abraham took Ishmael his son, all who were born in his house
and all who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house,
and circumcised the flesh of their foreskins that very same day, as God had said to him.
(Genesis 17:24 NKJV) Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the
flesh of his foreskin.
(Genesis 17:25 NKJV) And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was
circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin.
(Genesis 17:26 NKJV) That very same day Abraham was circumcised, and his son
Ishmael;
(Genesis 17:27 NKJV) and all the men of his house, born in the house or bought with
money from a foreigner, were circumcised with him.
Look at the 3 Obedience's in these verses:
Parental / He Took
Parental Obedience: Abraham took Ishmael. He didn't consult Ishmael on his thoughts on the
matter, if he wanted to or not, Abraham took Ishmael. Parents when it comes to the things of the
Lord, you take the children to them. The kids don't chose if they want to do family devotion, go to
Church. They don't decide what television shows are appropriate for them, what music they can
listen to. The Lord spoke to Abraham, and he took Ishmael and circumcised him.
Professional / Christian Company
Professional Obedience: Every one of Abraham's servants/employees was circumcised. If you
own the company, it is your right to run that company under the authority of Jesus Christ. My
friend told me of an interview he went on, and the Christian owner said we start every day off with
prayer, would that be a problem for you. We run this company on the principle of Jesus Christ,
our ethics, conversations, practices, work environment, would that be a problem for you? He
didn't say you had to be a Christian, but he did say Christ would be obeyed while working. If you
are a manager in any corporation, look at the Company code of ethics, and you will see that they
are in line with our Christian ethics. The beauty of that is that we can stand for our Christian
values, and use the corporate policies to back us. I have no problem telling people at work to
watch their language, I have no problem saying we are going to do this to the letter of the law. I
don’t even have to fear religious persecution because the policy of the company and laws of the
land defend my position. You know the fact that every servant was circumcised is a great
testimony of the respect they had for Abraham.
Personal / That Same Day / Willing to be Stretched
Personal Obedience: That very day Abraham did all these things. God spoke, Abraham went into
action. Once God speaks and tells us to do something, there is no need to pray about, it is time
to get into action. I also like the fact that Abraham didn't say ok, that sounds good for everyone
else. Starting with every newborn, on the eighth day they will be circumcised. He said starting
here and now we do this. Abraham didn't say this is for you younger immature people; Abraham
wasn't so ridged that he didn't see that it was for him too. Abraham allowed himself to be
stretched, taken out of his comfort zone. There is a danger of becoming ridged, and unteachable
the older we get, or the greater years we have in the Lord. But at 99 the Lord says we have only
begun Abraham.
Genesis Chapter 18
Abraham Intercedes for the Righteous
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap 17
In chapter 17 we saw the summation of the Abrahamic Covenant; The Principle, The People, The
Period, The Place. And we studied the Covenant of Circumcision, the cutting away of the flesh
for a life that would be lived after the Spirit. Now in chapter 18 we move into the story of Sodom
and Gomorrah. And we will see God and Abraham's relationship in a deeper, most blessed way.
(Genesis 18:1 NKJV) Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as
he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day.
(Genesis 18:2 NKJV) So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were
standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and
bowed himself to the ground,
Lord / 2 Angels
The Lord is on His way to destroy Sodom, there are three men, but verse one makes it clear that
one of the three is the Lord God Himself.
Entertain Strangers
It could be a reference to this scripture, when Abraham is entertaining these three men:
(Hebrews 13:2 NKJV) Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
Heat of Day / Pressure of Waiting / Done All You Asked
Notice it was the heat of the day when the Lord appeared to Abraham. So often in our lives, it is
in the heat of the day (if you will) when we see the Lord in a fresh new way. It can be in our fiery
trials that we see God in a way that we never had before (Just ask Meschach, Shaddarack, and
Abednego). Here is Abraham waiting for this promise of a son, the Seed. He is 99 and Sarah
90, and I can imagine that it was getting a little hard around the house. There can be an
additional pressure that comes when you are waiting on a promise from the Lord, when others
are involved. Maybe Sarah was saying getting on him, maybe there was some blame shifting;
but here they are waiting for this promise. Well Lord we've done all that you have asked. We left
Babylon, we left Egypt, we circumcised every male child, and still nothing. Sometimes that
frustrates us; Lord I've done everything you said to do, so I figured the blessings were going to
come immediately, you know rewarded for my obedience, but then there is still a silence, no
response or action form the Lord.
Sees New Aspect of God
Be watchful in those times, for often they are the very time that you get to see things about God
you never saw before. Abraham as we will read in verse 17, (And the LORD said, "Shall I hide
from Abraham what I am doing); will see God in a way he never had before. A God who is just
and fair, a God of mercy and compassion, but also a God of wrath against the wicked. Abraham
also gets a new relationship with the Lord, in the way of intercession. The will allow him to
intercede for the people of Sodom before the Lord. Abraham will see that his conversations with
the Lord goes beyond him, his home, and to the outer parts of the world. So too it is with us,
what an awesome privilege for us. Sometimes in intercession as we pray for each other, maybe I
missed my morning devotion, I let myself lose that blessing, well the enemy may be laying in wait
that day to destroy me, and see an opportunity to do so, but it is your prayer, your intercession
that covered me that day as you stood in the gap for me. Intercessory prayer is an awesome gift
form God to the church, and Abraham here gets to see God in this new light.
Verse 2 / Abraham’s Response to Seeing the Lord
Verse 2, notice how Abraham responds when he sees the Lord:
(Genesis 18:2 NKJV) So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw
them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground,
Abraham sees the Lord, he pops up, runs to the Lord, and bows down before Him. He is 99
years old yet when he realizes it is the Lord he runs to greet Him. How do we respond when we
see the Lord? What do I mean? I mean the alarm clocks goes off, it is time for our morning
devotion with the Lord, our time of prayer and meditating on Him. When the alarm goes off do we
say, the "Lord is Good", or do we say "good lord"?
Key to Morning Devotion
Let me give you a key to morning devotions, as I need reminding of this myself continually.
Obviously we have to realize that that late night television may actually be a trade for tomorrows
devotion. I need 8 hours sleep that is just the way it goes. The math is the math. The time I lay
my head down plus 8 hours is when I usually arise. But that is obviously, here is the key I was
talking about. Before you go to bed, tell the Lord I can't wait to meet with you in the morning.
Prepare your mind before you go to bed that you have an appointment, a date, with the Creator of
the Universe. The very same one whose power created the universe, is ready to met with you in
the morning, to give you the power needed to live the day in Him and for Him. I find that when I
ask Him to wake me, He does, but the battle is once I am up, do I chose to get out of the bed.
(Genesis 18:3 NKJV) and said, "My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not
pass on by Your servant.
(Genesis 18:4 NKJV) "Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest
yourselves under the tree.
(Genesis 18:5 NKJV) "And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts.
After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant." They said, "Do
as you have said."
(Genesis 18:6 NKJV) So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, "Quickly, make
ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes."
(Genesis 18:7 NKJV) And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to
a young man, and he hastened to prepare it.
(Genesis 18:8 NKJV) So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and
set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.
Fellowship Under the Tree
Do you notice where the fellowship is? It is under the tree. I see this as a picture, a type, for us.
That true fellowship with the Lord, only begins, and only continues, under the tree of the cross.
(Genesis 18:9 NKJV) Then they said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" So he said,
"Here, in the tent."
(Genesis 18:10 NKJV) And He said, "I will certainly return to you according to the time of
life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son." (Sarah was listening in the tent door
which was behind him.)
(Genesis 18:11 NKJV) Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah
had passed the age of childbearing.
(Genesis 18:12 NKJV) Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown
old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?"
(Genesis 18:13 NKJV) And the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh, saying,
'Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?'
Eavesdropping / Name Change – Old nature
Sarah didn't laugh out loud but laughed on the inside so they wouldn't hear her. But!!! The LORD
heard. Sarah laughs because she doubts Gods Word, and ultimately her power. Sarah is
eavesdropping. Of course, in those tents, there was a compartment (separated by tent cloth) for
the women and they had to stay on their side of the tent. There was also the living room where
the man would entertain his guests. It is the same today in the Bedouin tents today. She just had
her name changed, the Spirit put right between here name. But we see the old nature is still alive
and well, trying to show itself. Sarah, you and I, we are all a work in process, and God knows
and understands:
(Philippians 1:6 NKJV) being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until
the day of Jesus Christ;
(Philippians 3:12 NKJV) Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of
that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
(Philippians 3:13 NKJV) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
(Philippians 3:14 NKJV) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 3:15 NKJV) Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise,
God will reveal even this to you.
Sarah Laughs / God Speaks to Abraham
She laughs, God hears and asks Abraham why Sarah laughed. Notice men, the Lord asks
Abraham why died your wife laugh, He doesn't ask Sarah. God asks Abraham about his wife’s
unbelief first. The point, men God is expecting us to be washing our wives with the Word so that
we may present her spotless before the Lord:
(Ephesians 5:25 NKJV) Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her,
(Ephesians 5:26 NKJV) that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,
(Ephesians 5:27 NKJV) that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such
thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
(Genesis 18:14 NKJV) "Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will
return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son."
Ranking our Problems / Limited Concept of God / It Affects Our Prayers
Verse 14 - Is anything too hard for the LORD? - God says don't rank the degrees of difficulties for
Him. Don't rank your problems, bring every problem before Him, let Him handle them all. This is
a tremendous question. Our problems usually stem from our limited concept of God. We often
think of God as having human characteristics such as we have. Because I'm prone to think of
God in terms of myself, my concept of God is limited and it is not a right concept. Thus it is
reflected in my attitude of prayer and how I pray for certain things. There are something’s I have
no problem praying for. "Do you have a headache? Fine I'll pray for you. If prayer doesn't work
take an aspirin. Headaches aren't that much of a problem anymore. You've got Leukemia. You
want me to pray that God will heal you. Wait a minute! The doctor said you've got two weeks!
That's terrible. I feel sorry for you." Well now, Is it hard for God to heal Leukemia? Is that a tough
one for God? "I've really got a tough one for you this time God. All of the doctors have given up
and I really don't know if You can come through." What am I doing? I am carrying man's
limitations over to God. Here He's saying, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" As you really
ponder on this question, you will have to come to the conclusion that there is nothing too hard for
God. We need to remember that and pray with that consciousness. When Paul prayed for the
Ephesians, he ended his prayer by saying:
(Ephesians 3:20 NKJV) Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to
the power that works in us,
(Ephesians 3:21 NKJV) to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
God’s Appointed Time / Man’s Appointed Time
Verse 14 - At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall
have a son." - God has an appointed time for every and all things in our life. There is an
appointed time for marriage, appointed time for babies, appointed times for ministry; there is a
time appointed by the Lord for everything in our life. Now we can make our own appointed time
and have an "Ishmael of a Time", or you can wait on the Lord and have an Isaac (laughter, joy) of
a time. But know this Christian, if you decide the appointed time…….it just became God's will for
your life. Let me make a major point here, if you decide the appointed time of who you will marry,
not waiting on the Lord for His will in your life, then know the minute you say I Do, it just became
God's will for your life, and 5 days or 5 years later, God will not hear your excuse that you feel
you can get divorced because you were not in His will and shouldn't of been married. God's
Word is clear about divorce. Believer, wait, no matter how long or hard it seems, for God's
appointed time, so that you may have an Isaac of a Time, a time filled with joy and laughter. It is
so worth the wait.
(Genesis 18:15 NKJV) But Sarah denied it, saying, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid.
And He said, "No, but you did laugh!"
God Knows
God knows what we are doing behind closed doors, within ourselves, we should be afraid. Sarah
says II didn't laugh, and I wasn't eavesdropping either. God says, Nay, but you did laugh. You'll
call his name Isaac, so you always remember this day you laughed. You’ll be reminded of how
you looked at your abilities rather than my power.
(Genesis 18:16 NKJV) Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and
Abraham went with them to send them on the way.
(Genesis 18:17 NKJV) And the LORD said, "Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing,
(Genesis 18:18 NKJV) "since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and
all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
(Genesis 18:19 NKJV) "For I have known him, in order that he may command his children
and his household after him, that they keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and
justice, that the LORD may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him."
New Revelation / For Communication / To Teach the Kids
Abraham receives new information and revelation from the Lord. This information is given to him
not for self-knowledge, but for outgoing communication. The Lord says I am going to tell
Abraham what I am doing because he is a man who is going to teach his wife and children.
Abraham gets new revelation and understanding of where God is going, and what He is going to
do; let that sink in mom and dad, for when you do you will see God is looking to give you the
revelation of where He is going, where He is moving, what He is doing, so that we might teach it
to our kid. God is saying if you will be a teacher to your kids, I will constantly give you a fresh
revelation from me.
(Genesis 18:20 NKJV) And the LORD said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and
Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave,
(Genesis 18:21 NKJV) "I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether
according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know."
Lord Came Down
The Lord came down, when the cry came up. There is an outcry to God in unrighteousness and
here the LORD is going down to Sodom to investigate if the outcry which has come to Him is so.
In Genesis the fourth chapter, God says to Cain your brothers blood cries out against you
(Genesis 4:10 NKJV) And He said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the
ground.
The Cries Against Sodom
The outcry against Cain's horrible deed of killing Abel, his brother. Now the horrible deeds of
unrighteousness in Sodom crying out to God. God knows exactly what is happening in Sodom,
but he is dealing with Abraham so that Abraham knows that God is just and righteous; so He is
going down to check things out. The people of Sodom and Gomorrah were filled with sexual
perversion. As we will see in chapter 19 that their perversion was homosexuality. Homosexuality
was rampant, it filled the whole city. Homosexuality, and all other sexual perversion is an
abomination before the Lord:
(1 Corinthians 6:9 NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.
Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
(1 Corinthians 6:10 NKJV) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom
of God.
His Mercy has Limits / Rev 6
God is gracious and merciful, compassionate to all, but to be a righteous God, His mercy has
limitations and He must judge rebellion against His ways. What were going on here in Sodom
were the cries of the righteous rising up to seek righteousness. Lord how long will you allow this,
how much more until you set things right. You see righteousness cries out for righteousness.
We see this again in Revelation:
(Revelation 6:9 NKJV) When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the
word of God and for the testimony which they held.
(Revelation 6:10 NKJV) And they cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and
avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"
(Revelation 6:11 NKJV) Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little
while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was
completed.
Our Cries Today
The same is true for us today. Every time you watch television or a movie, or hear a song that is
blasphemous, and you say how much longer Lord, how much more of this are you going to
allow? That is God's righteous crying out to Him fro righteousness. I saw on television two new
movies for the summer. One with Kim Bassinger, and another with Nicole Kidman, and in both
movies they were having intimate relations with minors - a 16 year old and a 10 year old. As I
watched I found myself crying out to the Lord, how much more, how much loner until you come to
set things right. Remember our study on Noah, and look at this study, the Lord's return is soon.
People get ready, Jesus is coming soon:
(Luke 17:28 NKJV) "Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted,
they built;
(Luke 17:29 NKJV) "but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed
them all.
(Luke 17:30 NKJV) "Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
Romans 1 Today
We are seeing Romans 1 before our eyes today. We see men and woman with their progression
of sexual sin. They are seeking it to be more and more extreme, until they reach a point of total
depravity, involving themselves in all kinds of strange sexual behaviors like homosexuality,
beastiality, and pedophilia.
(Romans 1:24 NKJV) Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their
bodies among themselves,
(Romans 1:25 NKJV) who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the
Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
(Romans 1:26 NKJV) For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural
use for what is against nature.
(Romans 1:27 NKJV) Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another,
men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
(Romans 1:28 NKJV) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased
mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
(Romans 1:29 NKJV) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;
full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
(Romans 1:30 NKJV) backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
(Romans 1:31 NKJV) undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
(Romans 1:32 NKJV) who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of
death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
God tells Abraham his Plan
The Lord heard the outcry of Sodom and Gomorrah, and He says enough. But He comes to
Abraham, to tell him what is going to happen before it happens, so that Abraham would know and
understand why. So that Abraham would not be left with questions, wondering why did God
destroy a whole city, will someday He destroy me just the same? Rather comes and reveals His
plan to Abraham, so that He might understand His God. God does the same for us, He gives us
this word, and as we see all that is going on around us, we aren't left with questions, but an
understanding of why.
(Genesis 18:22 NKJV) Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but
Abraham still stood before the LORD.
(Genesis 18:23 NKJV) And Abraham came near and said, "Would You also destroy the
righteous with the wicked?
Abraham Intercedes / Great Tribulation / Delivered Noah & Lot
Abraham is interceding and it is an interesting position that he comes from. "You're the Judge of
all the earth, LORD. Would it be fair for you to destroy all the righteous of the city along with the
wicked?" This is an extremely interesting proposition that Abraham is making to the LORD and it
has a lot to do with us today. God is soon going to come and destroy the earth. We are fast
approaching, what is known in the Scriptures, as the Great Tribulation Period when God is going
to judge the wicked. There are many Christians, today, who are taking the position that the
"church" is going to be in the Great Tribulation; but, this is denying the justice of God. This very
premise that Abraham is pressing with the LORD that it wouldn't be fair to judge the righteous
with the wicked. The same is true of God's judgment that is coming. As He removed righteous Lot
out of Sodom, so will He remove the righteous ones in His "church" out of the earth before His
judgment falls. That's just in keeping with the principles and righteousness of a just God.
The Great Tribulation is God’s Wrath on a Christ rejecting world:
(Revelation 6:16 NKJV) and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the
throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
And just as then, it is now, God will not judge the righteous with the unrighteous:
(Malachi 3:6 NKJV) "For I am the LORD, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.
(2 Peter 2:4 NKJV) For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to hell and delivered them into
chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment;
(2 Peter 2:5 NKJV) and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of
righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;
(2 Peter 2:6 NKJV) and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making
them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly;
(2 Peter 2:7 NKJV) and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
(2 Peter 2:8 NKJV) (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing
and hearing their lawless deeds);
(2 Peter 2:9 NKJV) then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under
punishment for the day of judgment,.
Now God and Abraham begin a dialog, its amazing:
(Genesis 18:24 NKJV) "Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also
destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it?
(Genesis 18:25 NKJV) "Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous
with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall
not the Judge of all the earth do right?"
(Genesis 18:26 NKJV) So the LORD said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city,
then I will spare all the place for their sakes."
(Genesis 18:27 NKJV) Then Abraham answered and said, "Indeed now, I who am but dust
and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord:
(Genesis 18:28 NKJV) "Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You
destroy all of the city for lack of five?" So He said, "If I find there forty-five, I will not
destroy it."
(Genesis 18:29 NKJV) And he spoke to Him yet again and said, "Suppose there should be
forty found there?" So He said, "I will not do it for the sake of forty."
(Genesis 18:30 NKJV) Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose
thirty should be found there?" So He said, "I will not do it if I find thirty there."
(Genesis 18:31 NKJV) And he said, "Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to
the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?" So He said, "I will not destroy it for the
sake of twenty."
(Genesis 18:32 NKJV) Then he said, "Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once
more: Suppose ten should be found there?" And He said, "I will not destroy it for the sake
of ten."
Grace Displayed / Judgment Delayed by Abraham's Rescue
God came down, so that His grace may be displayed. God demonstrated His grace on the
people of Sodom in that He gave Abraham and only 300 men a mighty victory over the kings that
had taken them captive. God allowed Abraham to free them along with Lot, yet rather than
repent, they continued in their sin. Maybe they repented for a while, but we see that Abraham
didn't stop at 50, for he was unsure at that. He went all the way to 10, and that wasn't enough. I
reflect on America some 3 years since 911, and I wonder how we differ. Rescued and preserved
by God, and yet only 3 years later a country that leaves us saying, how much longer Lord!
Sinners on Free Ride / Salt of the Earth
You know, the sinners around you are having a free ride. It's because of you that God's judgment
has not already come. Sinners are blessed because Christians are there. For fifty righteous, God
would have spared Sodom. That was probably a small percentage of the population. How many
times God's judgment would have fallen if it had not been for His people being there. We are the
salt of the world, when we are taken out in the rapture, immediately or very soon after the Great
tribulation will begin. So many people hate us Christians, if only they knew that the blessing s
they are receiving is because of us, we are truly the salt of the earth:
(Matthew 5:12 NKJV) "Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the
prophets who were before you.
(Matthew 5:13 NKJV) "You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then
good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
(Matthew 5:14 NKJV) "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
(Matthew 5:15 NKJV) "Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who
are in the house.
(Matthew 5:16 NKJV) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in
heaven.
God’s wrath will not come until the Church (filled with the Holy Spirit) is taken out:
(2 Thessalonians 2:1 NKJV) Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to
Him, we ask you,
(2 Thessalonians 2:2 NKJV) not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from
us, as though the day of Christ had come.
(2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV) Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away
comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,
(2 Thessalonians 2:4 NKJV) who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he
sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
(Genesis 18:33 NKJV) So the LORD went His way as soon as He had finished speaking
with Abraham; and Abraham returned to his place.
Prayed Capsulated
Here we see prayed capsulated. Abraham shared his heart with the Lord, and then ultimately left
it that the Lord is just and fair, and will do what is right, and best.
Communing with God / God’s Perspective
I like the KJV of this verse:
(Genesis 18:33 KJV) And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham
returned unto his place.
Isn't it interesting of God's perspective of this meeting? God doesn't see this as Abraham trying
to bargain Him down to 10. But God sees it as He met with a friend who was like-minded, who
was concerned for the righteous and their well-being.
A Friend of God
Back in verse 23 - KJV, it says that Abraham drew near to God:
(Genesis 18:23 KJV) And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?
Abraham is known as a friend to God:
(2 Chronicles 20:7 NKJV) "Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and
gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?
(Isaiah 41:8 NKJV) "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.
(James 2:23 NKJV) And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
A Life Defined
Abraham’s life was defined by pitching tents and building altars. Abraham knew this wasn’t his
home and kept a light touch on the things of the world. He would build altars to worship God, he
knew that it was something about the lamb, placing it on the altar, that would bring him near the
God that had called him out of Ur. Here we see the God he had sought to draw near to, was now
communing with Him. They would have fellowship together, they would dine together, and God
would share His heart with Abraham. Imagine Abraham as He would reflect on this, that God
was sharing His heart with Him, that God trusted him enough with things of life and death. That
God would consider him, a friend enough, to share things of this magnitude.
We Are A Friend of God
Today the Lord says to us:
(John 15:15 NKJV) "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have
called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.
Today the Lord is looking for people that are like-minded with Him, that draw near to Him, that He
can call friend, so that He might give them fresh new revelations of Himself, so that they may
commune together.
Genesis Chapter 19
Genesis 19:1-14 - Lot, Beware of what is Culturally Accepted
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap Chapter 18 / Heat of the Day / Why Going to Do This / Great Trib
In Genesis 18 the Lord appears to Abraham in the heat of the day. Abraham and the Lord
commune and fellowship together, and the Lord shares with Abraham what He was going to do in
Sodom and Gomorrah. He tells Abraham this so that He would understand why He was going to
judge Sodom and Gomorrah, so that Abraham would have a full understanding that God is a just
and fair God. It is recorded for us so that we would have a full understanding to the rapture and
Great Tribulation.
Abraham Will Instruct Family / Like Minded
The Lord tells Abraham what He was going to do because He knew that Abraham would instruct
his family, and teach his family so that they too would understand the these things of the Lord.
God considered Abraham a friend, someone, who was like-minded, someone whose heart was
like that of the Lord’s Himself. Abraham demonstrated that by his intercession for the people of
Sodom and Gomorrah.
(Genesis 19:1 NKJV) Now the two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was
sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them, and he bowed
himself with his face toward the ground.
(Genesis 19:2 NKJV) And he said, "Here now, my lords, please turn in to your servant's
house and spend the night, and wash your feet; then you may rise early and go on your
way." And they said, "No, but we will spend the night in the open square."
(Genesis 19:3 NKJV) But he insisted strongly; so they turned in to him and entered his
house. Then he made them a feast, and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
God Doesn’t Enter Sodom
Notice that the Lord Himself doesn’t enter into Sodom and Gomorrah. God's grace has expired;
He will remove His righteous, and bring His judgment. So too will it be in the Tribulation Period.
Today we live in the period that is theologically called the "Dispensation of Grace". It is when all
and any can come to God and be because of Jesus' finished work on the cross for the
forgiveness of sin. But no man can come before God, until they first go through Jesus. The
access to the throne of God can only come via the cross. If sinful man came into the presence of
the Holy god without first be cleansed of their sin, then they would immediately be consumed by
His Holiness, because His Holiness must consume any and all impurity before Him. This is
important to understand theologically; even in the period of the Dispensation of Grace, man has
no personal fellowship or relationship with God until they first accept Jesus as their Savior from
the judgment of their sin. In layman terms, unsaved people don't have a relationship with Him.
Unsaved people cannot have a conversation of prayer with God, for if they could, His purity would
have to consume them. In His grace He turns His face and ear from them:
(Habakkuk 1:13 NKJV) You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on
those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?
(Isaiah 59:1 NKJV) Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
(Isaiah 59:2 NKJV) But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
(Isaiah 59:3 NKJV) For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your
tongue has muttered perversity.
(Isaiah 59:4 NKJV) No one calls for justice, Nor does any plead for truth. They trust in empty words and speak lies; They
conceive evil and bring forth iniquity.
No Personal Fellowship
God cannot have personal fellowship with the wicked, with the unsaved. God’s hand is still upon
them, He is still loving them, He is still deeply interested in their lives, He never stops crying out to
them, but He does not have fellowship with them apart from regeneration, apart from accepting
the Lamb, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Proverbs 28:9:
(Proverbs 28:9 NKJV) One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
It is not God answering their prayers for help, but it God showing His love and mercy for them,
and how He has a plan and purpose for their life.
The First Prayer
The first prayer that God will hear from a person, is a prayer of repentance. The acceptance of
the Lamb, the transfer of guilt and shame unto the substitute – Jesus Christ, so that a person
might be clean before Him, and acceptable to come into His presence and have fellowship and
communion.
(Acts 3:18 NKJV) "But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He
has thus fulfilled.
(Acts 3:19 NKJV) "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may
come from the presence of the Lord,
(Acts 3:20 NKJV) "and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before,
Can't Diminish His Holiness
Why is this point important to understand theologically, because if diminish God's Holiness (by
allowing impurity in His presence), then you diminish how offensive sin is before Him, and that
diminishes the work of the Lamb upon the cross.
The End of His Mercy / Rescued but no Repentance
God does not enter Sodom, God’s mercy has now come to its end, and now it is time for God’s
judgement. I again remind you, God miraculously rescued all the people of Sodom and
Gomorrah through Abraham and his 300 men, He freed them from the 4 Kings that had taken
them captive (Genesis 14), yet they did not repent, they had 13-24 years to repent, they did not
turn God’s grace and mercy into a relationship of love and obedience.
City Hall / Lot’s Progression / Be careful For Us
Verse 1 - and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. The gate of the city was the equivalent to our
“city hall” today. What is says is that Lot had become a leader in the city, a sinful city. We have
studied Lot’s progression before, but lets recap it, It all started when he lifted his eyes and saw
the lush green land before him (Gen 13:10). He didn’t look up, to the Lord, he didn’t consider
how it would effect him or his family, but just how green it was. Again, be careful about that
today, the jobs you take, or moving to an area where your spiritual life will be effected. Look at
Lot. He looks at the lush land, then next we find him pitching his tent facing the land of Sodom
(Gen 13:12), then next we find him living in the city of Sodom (Gen 14:12), and now here in
chapter 19 we see him being a leader in this wicked and perverse city. And have no doubt about
it, Lot was saved (2 Peter 2:7-8):
(2 Peter 2:7 NKJV) and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
(2 Peter 2:8 NKJV) (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing
and hearing their lawless deeds);
I can’t buy the teaching that he did it to influence the city, because we will see that they mock him
when he tries to get moral with them, the rejected his witness.
(Genesis 19:4 NKJV) Now before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom,
both old and young, all the people from every quarter, surrounded the house.
(Genesis 19:5 NKJV) And they called to Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who
came to you tonight? Bring them out to us that we may know them carnally."
Look at the Perversion / Gang Rape / Death
Look at the perversion of this city. It says both young and old the youth were raised up in this
perversion. Tell me that morals cant be passed on to our youth, whether good or bad. Notice
also that this isn’t homosexuality that is feminine, but one that is animalistic. This is gang rape,
unrestrained perversion. As I look at the amount of men wanting to rape this two men, I have to
be lead to think that the two angels (had they been men) would not have survived the repeated
raping and sodomy. The wording also leads me to believe that others from the city (woman)
came to watch - this city was rotted all the way through.
Romans 1 Debased Mind
We have both young and old, totally out of their mind. This is the debased mind (void &
worthless, corrupted) that is spoken of in Romans 1:
(Romans 1:27 NKJV) Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another,
men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
(Romans 1:28 NKJV) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased
mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
Where Wrong in the Scriptures / Genesis 2 – the Model
The question can be asked, show me in the Scriptures where God says homosexuality is wrong
up to this point. How did they know it was wrong, and why should they be judged for it. We need
to go back to Genesis 2:23-24, and it is there we see God’s model for intimate relations:
(Genesis 2:23 NKJV) And Adam said: "This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man."
(Genesis 2:24 NKJV) Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become
one flesh.
(Genesis 2:25 NKJV) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.
Model- Word Indistinguishable
God’s model and God’s Word are indistinguishable for the model came from His Word. The
clearly shows the Partners, the Parents, and the Period.
Partner – Parents - Period
The Partners: Man and woman, there is no other equation given.
The Parents: man and woman will leave them, the parents. There will be no more depending on
them the parents, but dependence only upon each other. Helpmates!
The Period: Forever, for cleaving/joining is from the Hebrew word “dabaq”, and it was the word
used for glue, and we know that glue is not used for temporary joining, but permanent joining.
Dispels Casual Sex / Baltimore Billboard
So the partner dispels homosexuality, and the parents and the period crush any and all “casual
sex” attitude that is prevalent today, or then. According to God’s model, the person is not to enter
into sexual relations until they are capable of leaving the dependence of their parents. I saw a
billboard in Baltimore and it had a teen age girl holding a baby, and said something like the
average baby cost 1,000 dollars a month to care for, so how much is your allowance. Teenagers,
heed this point. Now young adults, the Period crushes casual sex for you because cleave/join is
permanent glue and that means no sexual relations until you are willing to be joined to that
person for life.
Why So Important
Because God hates what sexual immorality does to a person. It destroys a person's soul, in that
every time a person is joined to another, they give a piece of themselves away. So when they do
meet their mate for life, there is less of themselves to give, and that robs the relationship of being
all that it can be. The glue that is suppose to be used to join husband and wife together is now
reduced, spread thin:
(Proverbs 6:32 NKJV) Whoever commits adultery (sexual immorality) with a woman lacks understanding; He who does
so destroys his own soul.
No Excuse for Sodom
So for the men of Sodom and Gomorrah, and the people today, the model is man and woman,
mature and responsible enough to live without mommy and daddy’s support, joined for life.
God’s Appointed Time / Commune in the Heat of the Day
I might add, last study we spoke about God’s appointed time, in that we can wait for God’s
appointed time, or we can make our own appointed time, and the difference will be between
having an “Ishmael of a Time” or an “Isaac of a Time”. Ishmael of a time brings long term pain
and sorrow, and an Isaac of a time brings joy and laughter. I related that to marriage, and last
time I got the question, how do you know the difference? How do I know if my relationship is and
Ishmael or and Isaac? All I can say to you is this, the only way you will know is by spending time
under the tree, communing and fellowshipping with the Father, in the heat of the day. It will be
then that the Lord will give you fresh insight and revelation of just what He is doing, and where He
is going, just like he did to Abraham.
(Genesis 19:6 NKJV) So Lot went out to them through the doorway, shut the door behind
him,
(Genesis 19:7 NKJV) and said, "Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly!
(Genesis 19:8 NKJV) "See now, I have two daughters who have not known a man; please,
let me bring them out to you, and you may do to them as you wish; only do nothing to
these men, since this is the reason they have come under the shadow of my roof."
Culture of the Day / Christian Duty Exceeds Cultural Acceptance
Read a multitude of commentaries and you will have the focus on "the culture" of the day, how
the daughters were considered expendable (2nd rate citizen) in comparison to offending a guest of
the house. That is true, that is how the culture was at that time, but here is the important spiritual
application - we as followers of the Lord, our Christian duty and calling exceeds the culture, our
Christian duty and calling is not to be effected by what is culturally acceptable, or culturally
unacceptable.
Culturally Acceptable – Leads to Lot of Trouble
Here we see how Lot's compromises in the past led him to this terrible place. It started with a
glance, led to a move, and finally resulted in a lifestyle. I say that to say this, beware of what is
considered culturally acceptable, for it could lead you into "a lot" of trouble.
The Subtle Enemy / Gay Agenda – Anita Bryant / Christians Know the Gay Themes
Your enemy is subtle, and in most cases Satan doesn't try to take you out in one blow, instead he
weakens you by daily wearing you down. We see can see something so many times around us,
that it becomes acceptable, it becomes non-shocking to us. Just look at how the Gay Agenda
has slowly progresses just since the 1970's. I can still remember Anita Bryant marching in
protest against homosexuality, and now 30 years later it is the gays marching, and their continual
march has resulted in total acceptance in Hollywierd, and now in some States legal marriage, and
many major corporations are now giving health benefits to "partners". 30 years ago the world
would have said impossible, today for most people homosexuality doesn't even cause a flinch of
the eye. Even more sadly, there are gay themed television shows, and many an evangelical
Christians can tell you what the story line is and who the characters are (Friends, Will & Grace,
Queer Eye). I can remember the first show that openly spoke of gays, it was called "Soap" and
Billy Crystal played the homosexual male. The world then was laughing about gays, but it was
enough to gain a foothold, and now it is Satan who is laughing.
Day by Day Desensitized
Day-by-day, we become more desensitized to these things that are culturally acceptable, to the
point that we may not even think they are wrong, or there is problem that results from them. It is
now culturally acceptable:
For youth sports to be played on Sunday at 9am
For the F-bomb to be used in PG-13 movies
For nudity and pornography to be at a fingers touch away
For 8pm television shows to be loaded with sexual content
For a 50% divorce rate in this country, and split family is now the normal.
Christian Examine Cultural Acceptance
As Christians we must always keep a guard up against what is culturally acceptable, and
examine it in the light of the Word, and determine how will this effect me and my family.
For Lot, the cultural effected him, he didn't effect the culture.
V7 – Sad Statement - Brethren
Verse 7 - and said, "Please, my brethren, do not do so wickedly! One of the saddest statements
in the Scriptures, Lot calls these wicked and perverse men - brother. I by no means am saying
he should call them wretched dirt bags, but his calling them brethren shows how they brought him
down to their level, instead of Lot bringing them up to the level he should have been at.
Samson the Saddest
To me the saddest statement in the Scriptures is Samson, and it is reminiscent of Lot, where the
flesh and the culture blinded a man of God, and left him powerless in a time when he needed to
be powerful. The Scripture says, for he did not know that the Spirit had departed him:
(Judges 16:20 NKJV) And she said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" So he awoke from his sleep, and said, "I will
go out as before, at other times, and shake myself free!" But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.
(Judges 16:21 NKJV) Then the Philistines took him and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza. They bound
him with bronze fetters, and he became a grinder in the prison.
Lot / Defile Daughters but not my Name / Moral Compass Broken
Lot says go ahead and do to my daughters as you would. Rape them, defile them, do your
horrible deeds to them, but don't theses men and disgrace my name………..brothers. Lot's moral
compass is broken, and we will see that not only can he not lead himself, nor his family, he can't
lead the lost unto salvation.
(Genesis 19:9 NKJV) And they said, "Stand back!" Then they said, "This one came in to
stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge; now we will deal worse with you than with
them." So they pressed hard against the man Lot, and came near to break down the door.
Don’t Preach Bible Boy / You there at the Water Cooler
Obvious application, they are saying don't preach to me Bible-boy for you are right there with us.
You are there in the break room listening to the jokes, bashing the boss, and enjoying the gossip.
We know you are spending the night at your girlfriends; still hitting the clubs, red-eyed hangovers,
don't start preaching to us. Lot's lifestyle, his witness went before him, and when it came time to
witness for God, he had no witness.
(Genesis 19:10 NKJV) But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house
with them, and shut the door.
(Genesis 19:11 NKJV) And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house
with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.
Talk About Consumed Mind / Christian Risk it All
Talk about blindness, talk about a mind consumed with perversion, they couldn't even see yet
rather than go home, their perverted sexual desire would keep them feeling around in an attempt
to satisfy their lust. Reading this we say how sick they must have been, but a step back and we
see that many Christians themselves so things as foolish. There are Christians willing to risk
marriage and family for a moment's pleasure, we see Christians willing to risk their salvation for a
lifestyle of fornication. They are willing to risk that they are right about once-saved always-saved,
in order to satisfy their sexual appetite. As a teacher of the Word of God, I cannot guarantee that
person that they are guaranteed eternal life with God in heaven. There are too many Scriptures
that support both side of the argument that all I can tell them is the guaranteed way - repent!
(1 Corinthians 6:9 NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.
Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
(1 Corinthians 6:10 NKJV) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom
of God.
(Genesis 19:12 NKJV) Then the men said to Lot, "Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law,
your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city; take them out of this
place!
(Genesis 19:13 NKJV) "For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them
has grown great before the face of the LORD, and the LORD has sent us to destroy it."
(Genesis 19:14 NKJV) So Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, who had married his
daughters, and said, "Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!" But
to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.
No Witness / Parents Must Remain Consistent
The reference to son-in-laws could refer to Lots other married daughters (if he had them), or most
likely, this refers to the same two daughters that were being offered, and they were betrothed to
be married.
In any case they laugh at him, thought he was joking. Lot had no witness, no credibility before his
family. Dad's our children cannot see inconsistency in us, we must stay solid, live a continual
witness before them. As for Lot, he allowed what was culturally acceptable to creep into his life,
his moral compass was broke, and he lost his witness, how sad. Let us learn from Lot.
Genesis 19:15-38
The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap Chapter 18 / Heat of the Day / Why Going to Do This / Great Trib
In Genesis 18 the Lord appears to Abraham in the heat of the day. Abraham and the Lord
commune and fellowship together, and the Lord shares with Abraham what He was going to do in
Sodom and Gomorrah. He tells Abraham this so that He would understand why He was going to
judge Sodom and Gomorrah, so that Abraham would have a full understanding that God is a just
and fair God. It is recorded for us so that we would have a full understanding to the rapture and
Great Tribulation.
(Genesis 19:15 NKJV) When the morning dawned, the angels urged Lot to hurry, saying,
"Arise, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be consumed in the
punishment of the city."
(Genesis 19:16 NKJV) And while he lingered, the men took hold of his hand, his wife's
hand, and the hands of his two daughters, the LORD being merciful to him, and they
brought him out and set him outside the city.
Pre-Trib Rapture
Again the Biblical Picture that the church (the righteous) will not go through the Tribulation, but be
raptured before God pours His wrath out on a Christ rejecting world (unrighteous). This is known
as Pre-Tribulation rapture.
Lot Righteous? / Calls Perverts Brothers
Verse 16 - the LORD being merciful to him - God will not destroy the righteous with the wicked.
Righteous Lot? Are you sure? A man that calls perverts "brothers", a man who volunteers his
daughters to be gang raped? Yes:
(2 Peter 2:7 NKJV) and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked
(2 Peter 2:8 NKJV) (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing
and hearing their lawless deeds);
Imputed to Us
Listen gang, righteousness is imputed to us by faith. By faith in Jesus Christ is my Lord and
Savior:
(Romans 10:9 NKJV) that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised
Him from the dead, you will be saved.
(Romans 10:10 NKJV) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
(2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness
of God in Him.
Have You Been Blowing It
Have you been blowing it lately, have you been questioning your salvation, then take comfort and
assurance in this story that God has not cast you off, to turned His back on you. Take comfort in
knowing the story Lot, that God was merciful to him, and that he saved Lot from the judgment to
come, not on Lot's righteousness, but on God's righteousness that was imputed unto him.
Sucked In - Not Engaged / Those w/no Outward Signs
Lot was sucked into the world, he allowed the culture to affect him, but notice from the
commentary of 2 Peter, he was still sensitive to the sin that was around him, although he
compromised, he never entered into their sin. This passage brings me comfort and hope for the
people I know who have made professions for Christ, but have no outward signs of the fruit of
their salvation in their lives. They make that profession; they are not engaged in habitual
disobedient sin, yet you won't find them in the Word, in Church, or even in conversation, you
literally can't tell them apart from an unbeliever in the world.
My View from Genesis / 2 Peter / Never Know a Man's Heart
What else do I get from this story of Lot that is so important for my life personally? I get freedom,
the freedom from trying to decide and figure who is saved and who isn’t. If I read the story of Lot
here in Genesis and Genesis only, my thoughts and position would be that he was not saved, he
did not have a personal relationship with the Lord. But show me 2 Peter 2, and I know that he is
because the Word says that he is. So the lesson for me, the example for me is that although I am
to be a fruit inspector, I will still never know another man's heart. God shows me my limitations,
God shows me how terrible of a judge I would be:
(Matthew 7:16 NKJV) "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
Treat You Like a Believer
Now, if you tell me you are a Believer, than I am going to treat you like a Believer, in that I am
going to hold you to the calling of all Believers. I will ask the person, are you in the Word, where
are you fellowshipping at, how is your walk with the Lord? If they say I am a Believer, but living
an unrepentant habitual lifestyle of sin, all I can do is take them to the Word and show them
where they need to be very, very concerned with their lifestyle, because if they are living in
unrepentant habitual lifestyle, but profess Christ, then I just don’t know, I can only tell them the
sure way:
(1 Corinthians 6:9 NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.
Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,
(1 Corinthians 6:10 NKJV) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom
of God.
Examine Fruit / Judging Heart / Stirring You Up
In both cases I will say I don't see the fruit in your life, I am not judging your heart, but I am
examining your fruit, and it does not prove out your words (James 2 – Its Faith that Works). Peter
said as long as I'm in this body I find it needful to stir you up, and after all, is that not what all the
epistles and examples of Jesus give us:
(2 Peter 1:10 NKJV) Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these
things you will never stumble;
(2 Peter 1:11 NKJV) for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ.
(2 Peter 1:12 NKJV) For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and
are established in the present truth.
(2 Peter 1:13 NKJV) Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you,
(2 Peter 3:1 NKJV) Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of
reminder),
(2 Peter 3:2 NKJV) that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the
commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,
Can't Judge / Who Else Am I Wrong About
So I can't judge the heart, I don't have the Divine power to do so. Consider this, if I was so wrong
about Lot, then how many other people am I or have I been wrong about? I think when we get to
heaven we will be surprised of some of the people who are there; but I also think we will be
surprised also by who isn't there:
(Matthew 7:20 NKJV) "Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
(Matthew 7:21 NKJV) "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does
the will of My Father in heaven.
(Matthew 7:22 NKJV) "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out
demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
(Matthew 7:23 NKJV) "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
We Are Not Asked to Figure It Out / Burden Light
You know what God is saying to us, "I am not asking you to figure it out, I wouldn't put that type of
burden upon you, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light:
(Matthew 11:29 NKJV) "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find
rest for your souls.
(Matthew 11:30 NKJV) "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Just Follow / Frees Me to Ask / Just Fellowship / The Critical Heart
God says, just follow me, I am not asking you to be judge or jury, just be a witness of all you have
seen and heard. What happens here is that frees me, and it moves me from being a decider, to
an asker, and when we are in that place of being an asker, we get what Abraham got. He got to
fellowship and commune with the God whom he had sought to draw near to. The reason he had
a life that pitched tents and built altars. He got to commune with the Father in the heat of the day
underneath the tree, and God gave him fresh and new revelation and insight into who his God
was. I find that in most cases when I am trying to be the decider if someone who professes
Christ is really saved or not, that I am not drawing closer to God in commune because I have a
judgmental and critical heart, that soils my fellowship with my Father in heaven.
Don't spend all your time trying to decide, spend it asking the Father to move in their life.
(Genesis 19:17 NKJV) So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he
said, "Escape for your life! Do not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape
to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
Escape the Mts / Mount Moriah
Escape to the mountains: a picture for us today, for all who will escape God's judgment, His wrath
to come, you must go to the mountain, Mount Moriah, Calvary. It is there and there only that you
will find safety. The mountain demonstrated both God's love, and His wrath. The wrath of sin
before a Holy God, and the love of a God who would take man's wrath for that sin, to all who will
receive place their hand upon the Lamb and transfer their guilt and shame upon Him.
(Genesis 19:18 NKJV) Then Lot said to them, "Please, no, my lords!
(Genesis 19:19 NKJV) "Indeed now, your servant has found favor in your sight, and you
have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot
escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die.
Amazing Lot / Lingers - Questions / The World Clouds the Spirit
Lot amazes me. These two angels yank him out before destruction, and then he disagrees with
them and questions their direction of where he should go from there. Back in verse 16 it says he
lingered there, unto the point the angels had to grab his hands and his families and lead them,
maybe even drag them, out of the city. Destruction is coming, yet he lingers. Destruction is
coming, yet he is questioning the mountains are the best place for him. Truly Amazing. Gang,
spend time in the world, and you will constantly be missing the Lord's spiritual guidance, and you
will constantly be questioning God's Word.
Just Like Lot / Saved - Questioning / New Believer take Note
But I shouldn't be that amazed with Lot, for I see a lot of me, in Lot. How many good words the
Lord has given me, and I end up questioning if that is the best for me. Lot got the first part -
finally, ok got to go, but then he questions the second part - I don't know about the mountain
thing. I remember when I totally got the meaning of the cross, I was walking on a cloud, saved
from destruction and I knew it. But then came the second part, what's that, quit the party scene.
I'm not sure I like that part, not sure if I agree with that interpretation. Does that really apply to
me, and then the reasoning and the negotiations begin, I/Lot we are going to find something more
suitable to our lifestyle. I'm going to be saved from destruction, but still live my old lifestyle. Lot
was a city boy; he didn't want to go live in no mountain, so he is going to say how about this city
over here. New believer, salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life. Trust me/us,
the second part through the millionth part is just as perfect and true as the first part; here is how
you escape the destruction, and here is how I want you to live, for I only want the best for you.
So Lot begins negotiations, we have all been there.
(Genesis 19:20 NKJV) "See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one;
please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live."
(Genesis 19:21 NKJV) And he said to him, "See, I have favored you concerning this thing
also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken.
(Genesis 19:22 NKJV) "Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive
there." Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.
(Genesis 19:23 NKJV) The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar.
Just a Little City / Little Detour / The Struggle
Lot says it is just a little city, a little-whittle city, send me there. It's just a little detour from where
you told me to go God. So funny, right now as I study this passage I am being pulled to go
"relax" and watch a little television. All day I've just want to check-out and have a no brainer, but
all day God has been calling to me, come spend some time with me in the word and prayer. He
was calling me out for some sweet one on one time. But I found that struggle going on, ok I'll just
watch TV for 15 minutes, its just a little time Lord, a little -whittle time. But I know it won't be for a
few minutes, I channel surf for 30 minutes just to find something to watch, then the next thing you
know it is 10 o'clock, bedtime. The Lord said Ray, come on up to the mountain, spend time
away with me:
(Isaiah 56:7 NKJV) Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt
offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations."
Lot Went Where he Thought Safe / Nicaragua / In God's Will
Lot went to where he thought he would be comfortable, it would be safer. Believer the safest
place in the world, is where God has called you to be. Someone asked me if I am worried about
the dangers of Nicaragua, I told them I would be more worried about being someplace where I
am out of God’s will. I know it is God’s will for me to be there, therefore I can rest and relax in
that, no matter what happens. God told me to go, and for me to know to do good and not do it,
now that would be sin, and then I would need to worry.
(Genesis 19:24 NKJV) Then the LORD rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah,
from the LORD out of the heavens.
(Genesis 19:25 NKJV) So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the
cities, and what grew on the ground.
Dead Sea / Waste Land / Life is a Vapor
Sodom and Gomorrah, the region known today as the Dead Sea, also called the Salt Sea by the
people who live in the land. If you travel to Israel and see the area, you will see that the area is
very dry and arid. The Dead Sea is so full of salt that nothing can survive in it. Imagine that at
one point, it was lush and beautiful, so beautiful it drew Lot right in. Then in one evening it was
turned into wasteland, and so it still is today. The world, our life, is just a vapor, and it fading
away. Lot invested his whole life in Sodom, and then it all went up in smoke. The statistics are
in, 10 out of every 10 people, will die, what are you investing in:
(James 4:14 NKJV) whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that
appears for a little time and then vanishes away.
(Genesis 19:26 NKJV) But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of
salt.
Not Looking in Curiosity / Heart Never Left
It wasn't a look back in curiosity of what was happening, but a looking back in longing. She loved
Sodom, she probably was well respected there because of Lot, because he sat at the gate of the
city, a leader in prominent position. She was probably a member of the country club, the sewing
club, and the Shakespeare club, maybe even a religious club. Her heart was in Sodom, her body
walked out, but her heart never left. She was still wanting to be a part of Sodom and all her
luxuries.
She Didn’t Believe God’s Word
She didn't believe God at His Word:
(Genesis 19:17 NKJV) So it came to pass, when they had brought them outside, that he said, "Escape for your life! Do
not look behind you nor stay anywhere in the plain. Escape to the mountains, lest you be destroyed."
Fail to believe His Word, and you will lose, it is a guarantee:
(Luke 17:28 NKJV) "Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted,
they built;
(Luke 17:29 NKJV) "but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed
them all.
(Luke 17:30 NKJV) "Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.
(Luke 17:31 NKJV) "In that day, he who is on the housetop, and his goods are in the house, let him not come down to
take them away. And likewise the one who is in the field, let him not turn back.
(Luke 17:32 NKJV) "Remember Lot's wife.
(Luke 17:33 NKJV) "Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.
Looking Back Will Paralyze You
Desiring to look back on the old life will paralyze you, looking back will keep you from progressing
(Luke 9:61 NKJV) And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my
house."
(Luke 9:62 NKJV) But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom
of God."
Remember Good Times – Forget Bad
I can remember, especially during the hard times, thinking I want to go back and hang out with
my old friends and do the things we use to do. The allure was there, it was an easy place to be,
for it was fun for a season. But the mind has a way of erasing all the bad stuff that happened
during those times, all the pain and suffering that came after the season was over. I forget the
depression that came with it, the periods of loneliness even when I was in a room of 500. My
mind puts away the all the fears and anxieties I worried about in those days, it only remembers
the pleasurable moments. Paul reminds me at those times when I wanted to go back:
(Romans 6:21 NKJV) What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those
things is death.
Where Would we Go
Looking back will paralyze you, and if you truly think it all the way through, you will come to the
same point Peter came to when people were bailing out Him:
(John 6:67 NKJV) Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?"
(John 6:68 NKJV) But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
(John 6:69 NKJV) "Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Where else would we go, where could we go, anything apart from Jesus would be empty, and
truly, we wouldn't be able to enjoy it, the Spirit would be convicting us the whole time anyways.
There is no looking back, going back, all there is, is forward. Remember Lot's Wife.
(Genesis 19:27 NKJV) And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had
stood before the LORD.
(Genesis 19:28 NKJV) Then he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the
land of the plain; and he saw, and behold, the smoke of the land which went up like the
smoke of a furnace.
Lot Devastated / Abraham Not
Lot and wife were devastated over the destruction of Sodom, but as for Abraham I am sure He
was sad for the people, but not for the material loss, for Abraham’s life was defined by two things,
he pitched tents and built altars. Abraham had not invested a dime in Sodom, and when
judgement came it did not disturb him because there was nothing in Sodom that attracted him.
(Genesis 19:29 NKJV) And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain,
that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when He
overthrew the cities in which Lot had dwelt.
Remembered Abraham / Power of Intercession / Lot Woke Up
God remembered Abraham, the man who had a heart like the Father, a man that would intercede
on behalf of man, and God rescued Lot. You parents with wayward children, for every one of us
who have loved ones who we just don't know about………..God remembered Abraham! Your
prayers are heard, God lays them upon your heart so that you may intercede for them when they
are to weak or blinded to do so for themselves, so that He may pour His love out upon them.
Intercessory prayer is something I don't understand, it just something I am thankful for. God
remembered Abraham, and when it was time for Lot to wakeup, he did. Never, never give up on
that person, and heed this story that God is merciful; more merciful than our finite minds will ever
know.
(Genesis 19:30 NKJV) Then Lot went up out of Zoar and dwelt in the mountains, and his
two daughters were with him; for he was afraid to dwell in Zoar. And he and his two
daughters dwelt in a cave.
Life Caves In
So now Lot heads for the hills, not to seek the Lord, but out of fear. He dwells in a cave, and then
things are going to start caving in for him.
(Genesis 19:31 NKJV) Now the firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there
is no man on the earth to come in to us as is the custom of all the earth.
(Genesis 19:32 NKJV) "Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him,
that we may preserve the lineage of our father."
Upheaval / DANGER
Lots life had just been thrown into an upheaval. In one day he lost all his wealth, his home, his
wife, maybe other children, his position of prominence in the city, all gone in one day. And now
after all this, a time when he could seek the Lord on the mountain top, draw near to God and
have God draw near to him; but what does he do? He draws near to alcohol. Dangerous,
dangerous, dangerous. How many times I have watched Christians come upon hard times, and
rather than turn to God, they turn to drugs or alcohol (some turn to sex). Christians when hard
times come, don't put yourself in a cave, in the darkness, get out of the cave and up to the
mountain top. If you stay in the cave then depression will follow, and then the alcohol and drugs
will be there to make matters worse. How could it get any worse for Lot, well here it is.
(Genesis 19:33 NKJV) So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn
went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she
arose.
(Genesis 19:34 NKJV) It happened on the next day that the firstborn said to the younger,
"Indeed I lay with my father last night; let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you go
in and lie with him, that we may preserve the lineage of our father."
(Genesis 19:35 NKJV) Then they made their father drink wine that night also. And the
younger arose and lay with him, and he did not know when she lay down or when she
arose.
(Genesis 19:36 NKJV) Thus both the daughters of Lot were with child by their father.
(Genesis 19:37 NKJV) The firstborn bore a son and called his name Moab; he is the father
of the Moabites to this day.
(Genesis 19:38 NKJV) And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-
Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.
Education of Daughters / No Mountain Top
Lot chose to live in Sodom, and here we see the education that his daughters received there
coming out. If the girls would have left the cave and went to the mountain top, then they could
have seen it wasn't as hopeless as they thought, for there god could have spoken to them that
Uncle Abraham was just over the hill, they could have had husbands and children from his sons
and they would have been in the same family line.
Immoral Decision / Fueled by Alcohol
They came to their own immoral decision, but ultimately we have to look at Lot, and see the
damage he cause his family by taking them down into such a wicked and perverse city. And to
make matters worse, he lets the alcohol have its way with him, and allows him to be brought into
this sordid story.
The Moabites and the Ammonites would become perpetual enemies of Israel as we will read
throughout the OT.
Lot a Righteous Man
Yet, God calls this man righteous:
(2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV) For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness
of God in Him.
His love is amazing, He is a merciful, gracious God, who loves you, and considers you righteous
in His sight.
Genesis Chapter 20
Not Again / He is My Prophet
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap Chapter 18 - 19
In Genesis 18 the Lord appears to Abraham in the heat of the day. Abraham and the Lord
commune and fellowship together, and the Lord shares with Abraham what He was going to do in
Sodom and Gomorrah. He tells Abraham this so that He would understand why He was going to
judge Sodom and Gomorrah, so that Abraham would have a full understanding that God is a just
and fair God. It is recorded for us so that we would have a full understanding to the rapture and
Great Tribulation.
When Ezekiel talks about the sin of Sodom, he mentions the fullness of bread and the idleness of
time. Actually what brought these people of Sodom into their sinful lifestyle was the fact that they
were prosperous and had spare time. The area, being so fertile, required little attention or time
and having this surplus of agriculture; they could turn their time towards their society. Lot was
attracted to the area and then he lived in the area and became a judge. What was the price that
Lot paid for this? It cost him his entire family. The morals of his entire family were corrupted
although Lot, himself, stayed pure. He was strong enough to withstand the temptations and the
evil that was there in Sodom, but his family were not:
(Ezekiel 16:49 NKJV) "Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food,
and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
(Genesis 20:1 NKJV) And Abraham journeyed from there to the South, and dwelt between
Kadesh and Shur, and stayed in Gerar.
(Genesis 20:2 NKJV) Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And
Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.
(Genesis 20:3 NKJV) But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him,
"Indeed you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a
man's wife."
Moving South / Gerar Near the Egyptian Border
I am not sure why, but Abraham is on the move. We know his life was pitching tents and building
altars. That he wasn't looking for a city made by man, but a city whose builder and maker was
God. So we see him on the move right after Sodom. In chapter 19 the last location we saw him
was looking down at the burning city (19:27-28). I imagine to him, it was time for a new view.
The south country is translated, "Negev Desert," which is down toward Egypt. Kadesh is on the
northern end of the Negev, just south of Beer-sheva, where you come into the "promise land."
Shur is a little further south toward Egypt and Gerar is down near the Egyptian border. Gerar was
a very large town. The archeologists have uncovered Gerar and it seemed to be a large
merchandising town. Perhaps, even with all of his wealth, Abraham went down to trade to
increase that wealth.
25 yrs of Walking - Entering Covenants / Fear the Enemy of Faith
Twenty-five years earlier, when Abraham had first come into the land, there was a drought in the
land and he went down to Egypt. He asked Sarah to say that she was his sister, because he was
afraid they might take her, for her beauty, and kill him. The Pharaoh took Sarah into his harem,
but God told him that she was a man's wife. The Pharaoh sent Sarah and Abraham away. Now,
Abraham is doing the same thing here in Gerar. After twenty-five more years of walking with God
and entering into covenants with him, Abraham still has not grown in faith to the place where he
knows that God will, indeed, take care of him. Abraham is repeating the same sin that he
committed twenty-five years ago and behind it all is the fact that he is afraid of being killed. That
fear caused him to enter into the deceit of saying Sarah was his sister instead of his wife. How
tragic, what fear can do. What an enemy of faith, fear becomes.
Strong & Weak / Spiritual Growth isn't all Covering
We can grow in great maturity and strength in one area, and then weak and defeated in others.
We saw Abraham mature to the place of being an intercessor before God, but here we see him
failing in the area of lying and trust. I may be a spiritual giant in many areas of my life, but can be
a weakling in others. Spiritual growth isn't always, all covering. I can be strong in resisting this
sin or that sin, strong in leading my family, strong in evangelism, and then be totally weak in
another area, whether that be trusting God with my finances, employment, relationships, etc. If
you are an Abraham here today, know that you are not alone.
Failures - Places of Growth / Reveal Area to Work Next / Show Us Rely Completely
It is interesting that oftentimes these places of failure are also places of growth. God, in His love
and grace towards us, reveals to us those areas of weakness in our lives; only, for the purpose
that He might make us strong. God so often when revealing the fleshly areas that are displeasing
to Him , doesn't show them in a condemning way; but, he shows them in a way to reveal the next
area where God will work in my life. Whenever God makes me aware of a displeasing area in my
life, I look at it as God putting up "under construction" signs. That's the place where he is going to
be working next. As He puts me through the test, it is to develop my trust in Him and take away
the confidence in my flesh. It is to cause me to trust only in His work, because in myself I am
going to fail. We so often get in God's way as He is trying to work in our lives. We want to get
some of the glory when we get the victory. The tests and failures are to cause us to rely
completely on the Lord, because in our flesh dwells no good thing. Abraham will ultimately pass
this test of faith and trust in Genesis 22 when he is willing to sacrifice Isaac.
Snapping Fingers
I've said before about the little 5 year snapping his fingers and whistling. His dad says what are
you doing son? And the boy said well I can tie my shoes now, so I figure if I can learn how to
snap my fingers and whistle I got all the big stuff out of the way and will be set for life. We so
often think I quit cursing, drinking and fornication, so I got all the big stuff out of the way and am
set for life. Then God will show us some little thing that we just can't get past like smoking,
overeating, or girl watching, and God shows us we are not as strong as we think we are, and that
we need to seek Him deeply every day of our life for we can't do it without His help.
(Genesis 20:4 NKJV) But Abimelech had not come near her; and he said, "Lord, will You
slay a righteous nation also?
(Genesis 20:5 NKJV) "Did he not say to me, 'She is my sister'? And she, even she herself
said, 'He is my brother.' In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have
done this."
(Genesis 20:6 NKJV) And God said to him in a dream, "Yes, I know that you did this in the
integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not
let you touch her.
Sin Effects Others
Notice that our sins affect others. Abraham was the one that sinned, and that sin brought trouble
upon Abimelech and his nation. Your sin, my sin, will not only effect us, but our family and friends
also. In some way, it will. Consider that next time around
First Mention - Integrity / Should Always be Mentioned about Christians / Restaurants
This is the first mention of integrity in the Bible. Sadly it is not a reference to Abraham. The first
mention of integrity should have been associated with a man of God; the mention of love,
compassion, mercy, and grace should always be associated with the believers in the world
around us, but so often it is not. Little case in point, Christians when you are at the restaurant of
bad service, the Retail store of bad service, remember you are the on that is saved, they are the
one that may be perishing. Remember you have all the time in the world because your eternity is
set, but for them, their time may be short to find that relationship with the Lord. Consider that,
and consider them when you are in that situation. Don't complain about them, they know when
you are.
Lack of Integrity Plunges Us / In the Presence of Integrity
Back to this first mention of integrity; without integrity, you will find yourself plunging into all kinds
of sins and failing. Integrity will only come through the study of the word and commune with the
Father. This world needs more men and woman of integrity. I desire to be a man of integrity. I
love it when I am in the presence of men and woman of integrity, I feel their power, and being in
their presence makes me huger and thirst to be that. That is how I want other men and woman to
feel when they are in my presence. I love the bumper sticker I read the other day, it said Lord
help me to be the person my dog thinks that I am.
(Proverbs 10:9 NKJV) He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.
God Protects His Plan
Do you realize that if Abimelech had gone in and had relations with Sarah then the whole
program could have been in jeopardy? Abraham was about to mess up the whole plan of God,
by the polluting of the line by which the Messiah would come, but God moved sovereignty to
protect His program. God will always protect His program. We may fail, but God will raise up
someone else. Remember when Mordecai sent the message to Esther, who was fearful to go in
to Ahaserus because she might be killed, that she wouldn't escape just because she was in the
palace. If she chose not to go, God would raise up deliverance from another quarter. God would
save His people, but she would have lost her chance to be used of God. God has a plan for you
life, He wants to perform His Plan through you. Our actions can ruin God's plan that He wants to
work through us (look at Samson). No man, government, or program can ruin the plan God has
for your life, only you can. God was gracious to Abraham, He protected His plan, but it is
possible that by our own free will, we can ruin it.
(Genesis 20:7 NKJV) "Now therefore, restore the man's wife; for he is a prophet, and he
will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall
surely die, you and all who are yours."
(Genesis 20:8 NKJV) So Abimelech rose early in the morning, called all his servants, and
told all these things in their hearing; and the men were very much afraid.
(Genesis 20:9 NKJV) And Abimelech called Abraham and said to him, "What have you
done to us? How have I offended you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a
great sin? You have done deeds to me that ought not to be done."
First Mention - Prophet / Right in the Middle / Claims Him
Here is something amazing, the first mention of prophet used in the Bible, and it is Abraham right
in the middle of a lie and a rebuke by an unbeliever. Amazing, Abraham is putting his wife in a
compromising situation, jeopardizing God's plan that through her the Messiah will come, he is
failing in faith that God will fulfill His promise, and right in the middle of it all, God says he is my
prophet. God claims him, puts his name upon him, right in the middle of Abraham shaming and
misrepresenting Him. God says he is my man, my spokesman. Our mind would think God would
say, Abraham who? Or, enough of you Abraham, this habitual sin disgust me. No God says he
is mine. However you see yourself, God see’s more.
Romans 11:29 / Stands By Him
God is a God of grace:
(Romans 11:29 NKJV) For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
He will never take His gifts or calling away from us, and He never changes His mind about us. So
much so that God proves it right here, Abraham fails, yet God stands beside him.
Ever Blow It / Claim the Promise / Satan Lies
If you ever wonder how you can see someone blow it, and yet still see God using them, here is
why. For me, I claim this as a promise. I claim this as a call to get back up and keep going. For
any of you, if you ever blow it here as you fellowship here, don't listen o Satan's lie and run away
and quit; for we believe what God says, and you will be used again. Now there will be a time of
repentance and restoration, fixing and healing, but don't listen to Satan's lie saying God will never
use you again, that you have blown it too many times, for God says His gifts and calling are
without repentance.
Picture The Moment for Abraham
Can you imagine how humbling this experience must have been for Abraham, I wonder if he
wanted to quit, give it up. I picture Abraham's head down, eyes fixed on the ground, dejected,
and then to hear God say, "my prophet". I can picture his head pop up, what did you just call me.
Ohh Lord your grace and mercy endures forever. Your love is beyond my finite mind. You call
Lot righteous, and me a prophet. Lord you are too good. However you see yourself, God see’s
more.
Tell The Person who has Fallen
Do you know someone that needs to hear this message? Someone who once served the Lord,
had gifts and calling, but has since blown it. Go tell them this message, God's gifts and calling
are without repentance, come back, God wants to use you again. Repent and let Him restore
you.
(Genesis 20:10 NKJV) Then Abimelech said to Abraham, "What did you have in view, that
you have done this thing?"
(Genesis 20:11 NKJV) And Abraham said, "Because I thought, surely the fear of God is
not in this place; and they will kill me on account of my wife.
(Genesis 20:12 NKJV) "But indeed she is truly my sister. She is the daughter of my father,
but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.
Whole Problem - I Thought / Thinker - Prayer? / You Will have a Son
Here is the summation of the whole problem, because I thought. Not because I prayed and
sought the Lord, but because I thought. Are you a thinker or a prayer? I find that when I am a
prayer, things just work out so much better. Abraham tries to lamely explain his actions, which
stems from the fear of his own life. God had said He was going to give him a son. The son was
not yet born, so why would Abraham fear for his life? Surely he should realize that the word of
God is going to be fulfilled. God's word cannot fail. Abraham's faith did develop and grow, as we
will see as we read further in Genesis
The 1/2 Lie / Right Information – Wrong Implication / False Witnesses
It's not a complete lie. It's sort of a half lie. Did you ever realize that a half-truth is also a half lie?.
Right information, with the wrong implication, that is a false witness. It is no difference than those
who falsely accused Jesus. They took the right information, but then they applied in the wrong
implication with the purposefully intent to lead someone astray. That is the group of people you
are a part of:
Mar 14:56-57 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together. And there arose certain,
and bare false witness against him, saying,
(Genesis 20:13 NKJV) "And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my
father's house, that I said to her, 'This is your kindness that you should do for me: in every
place, wherever we go, say of me, "He is my brother."' "
We No Different / Work - IRS - Application - Gossip
Lie for me Sara, cover me, protect me. It is simply a lack of trust in the Lord that He will do what
he says He will. But we all do that, we are no different than Abraham:
• I am a man of integrity, but when we sleep in the traffic was real bad coming to work
boss.
• God will provide, but IRS that donation really was worth 500 dollars
• God will provide, but my job application I really did manage a group of 50
• God will stand beside me, but I'll gossip, or should I say share, about the person who is
attacking me.
We are no different than Abraham and Sarah.
Where Failure Began / Programming for Failure
Notice Abraham's failure started back in Babylon before he ever left his father’s house. He had
already figured this is the area where he would fail so he was programmed, back in Babylon, for
failure. There are some Christians who say, I will never have victory over that area in my life, I
just accept that. My tongue will never change, my temper, my lust. Once a Christian takes that
attitude and position, they are right, they wont have victory over it because they have resigned
themselves to defeat. They actually program themselves for defeat.
Programming for Victory / I can Do All Things
It's possible for us to program failure into our lives. In the same way that you program failure, you
can program victory. "I know that I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me (Philp
4:13)." If you learn to just trust in the Lord, you can be victorious over every circumstance of life.
It's important that you have certain foundational truths upon which you stand. When everything is
shakey and trembling, you stand upon these truths: God loves me, God will take care of me, He
who neither slumbers or sleeps will watch over me, He will preserve me and cause me to come
forth triumphant. Look at what Paul the Apostle went through, Why? Because, he knew in whom
he believed. He was able to go through the stonings, the shipwrecks, the beatings and all the
experiences that he had, coming forth more than a conqueror; because his trust was in the living
God. Here Abraham, the opposite, preprogrammed defeat and it happened to him and caught
him in that moment of weakness:
(Philippians 4:13 NKJV) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(Romans 8:35 NKJV) Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
(Romans 8:36 NKJV) As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter."
(Romans 8:37 NKJV) Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
(Genesis 20:14 NKJV) Then Abimelech took sheep, oxen, and male and female servants,
and gave them to Abraham; and he restored Sarah his wife to him.
(Genesis 20:15 NKJV) And Abimelech said, "See, my land is before you; dwell where it
pleases you."
(Genesis 20:16 NKJV) Then to Sarah he said, "Behold, I have given your brother a
thousand pieces of silver; indeed this vindicates you before all who are with you and
before everybody." Thus she was rebuked.
Little Dig / Not Much of a Husband
Abimelech now says to Sarah, here is your brother (referring to Abraham). It is a slam on
Abraham, a dig. I'm calling him your brother, for he hasn't been much of husband to you. Verse
16 - thus she was rebuked - better translation would be, thus she was vindicated. Abimelech is
saying, I don't blame you for this, its not your fault your husband didn't cover you and protect you.
Men, we need more men of integrity in the church.
(Genesis 20:17 NKJV) So Abraham prayed to God; and God healed Abimelech, his wife,
and his female servants. Then they bore children;
(Genesis 20:18 NKJV) for the LORD had closed up all the wombs of the house of
Abimelech because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.
Couldn't Preach - But Could Pray
Abraham couldn't preach to Abimelech for he was a liar and a coward before him. Even though
he couldn't preach to him, he could pray for him.
People We Have Scarred / Prayer List / Bind Satan
There are people that you/we can't preach to, we have scarred them badly from a poor witness or
a personal sin. They have closed us out, will not even talk to us, they walk on the other side of
the street when they see us coming. The letter comes back return to sender. There are people
in our lives that we have hurt badly form our personal sin, and God says pray for them. The
people you have hurt badly should be on your prayer list. We must pray that our poor witness will
not keep them from seeking the Lord (they call themselves Christian - I want nothing to do with it
then). We must pray that God will bless them and draw them to Himself. That Satan can't
energize their thought life and let them dwell on the bitterness of being burned by a Christian.
Past Marriage - Neighbor - HS / Keep you Humble
On the job, past marriage or marriages, a neighbor, high school friends; All of them we need to be
praying for because of how we have hurt them. Praying for them will keep you humble in that
very area that you failed in and hurt someone.
Pray for Enemies / Free You from Bitterness
Jesus says pray for your enemies. Praying a blessing for a person will keep us from being bitter
at them for what they had done, it will keep you from the restrictions that bitterness will bring upon
you:
Mat 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for
them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Into God's View / Break Your Heart
Praying for your enemy will move you from your puny view of the world, to God's eternal view, His
heavenly perspective. Praying for your enemies will move you into the heart of God. And you will
see them for where they are at, and it will break your heart. You may see them as destined for
eternity in hell, you may see them in bondage to their sin, in bondage to a life without love, a sad
pitiful life. You will see how much you have, and they lack, and when you have the heart of God,
your heart will break for them, and when and if you do see them, you will give them grace and
love, and maybe just be the bridge to the Savior they need.
God's sovereign providential care to keep his program though Abraham had this moment of
weakness. In the following chapters of Genesis, we will find Abraham growing in faith.
Genesis Chapter 21
Genesis 21:1-8: Isaac as Promised / Our Kids & Strong Meat
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap Chapter 18 – 19 - 20
We studied through Sodom and Gomorrah in chapters 18-19, and last chapter we see Abraham
having a failure in faith, fearing that he would be killed in Egypt when it was discovered that Sarah
was his wife. The Egyptians frowned upon adultury so they would just kill the man and take the
woman. So Abraham says lie for me, he forgot what God said, it is through you and Sarah that I
will make a you a great nation. That obviously can’t happen if you are dead, because you haven’t
had the promised child yet, the child between you and Sarah. God preserved His plan, He
intervened,
(Genesis 21:1 NKJV) And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for
Sarah as He had spoken.
(Genesis 21:2 NKJV) For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the
set time of which God had spoken to him.
25 Years / P-P-P-P / Faith
It is 25 years later and the promise comes to pass. Abraham is now 100, and Sarah is 90. So,
God brought to pass what He had told Abraham He would do. With God, there is a "set time" for
all things. God deals with the eternal and so has all kind of patience waiting for that "set time." We
deal with the temporal and so, we have problems waiting for God's "set time." We, so often, try to
speed up God's clock and hasten His program. We try to do things before God's "set time" and
that is always a mistake. We jump ahead and move before God moves. Uderstand this spiritual
principle, most times there is a time gap between the promise of God, and the performance of
that promise. God produces the person through the process of the promise (See study in James
5 for detailed message.). Grasp this fact that God gives a promise and allows a time to pass
before performing that promise. God is teaching us how to walk by faith. It is only when I don’t
understand what is going on, what God is doing, is faith required:
(2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.
If I can see everything, and understand everything, then no faith is required. God is committed to
making you and I men and woman of faith. Do you realize that is one of the things He is working
in us.
(Genesis 21:3 NKJV) And Abraham called the name of his son who was born to him;
whom Sarah bore to him; Isaac.
(Genesis 21:4 NKJV) Then Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days
old, as God had commanded him.
(Genesis 21:5 NKJV) Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was
born to him.
(Genesis 21:6 NKJV) And Sarah said, "God has made me laugh, and all who hear will
laugh with me."
Laughter
So they name him Isaac, which means, "laughter." When God told Abraham he was going to give
him a son when he was a hundred years old; Abraham laughed for joy. Being strong in the faith,
he gave glory to God. The laughter of Abraham was the laughter of joy. Later on when the LORD
was talking to Abraham, in his tent, Sarah was eavesdropping when He told him that Sarah would
bear him a son and she laughed. Her laugh was one of incredulity. Because hers was a laugh of
disbelief the angel rebuked her. They both laughed at the prospect of having a son, so the LORD
said that his name shall be called Isaac or "laughter." Isaac brought much joy and laughter to his
parents and was a blessing to them.
(Genesis 21:7 NKJV) She also said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would
nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age."
(Genesis 21:8 NKJV) So the child grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast
on the same day that Isaac was weaned.
No More Bottle
Isaac is weaned, meaning he is done with the bottle, and now eating meat. He isn’t a baby
anymore, he has matured into a child. It was a big deal back then, so much so that they have a
great feast and celebration. My child is off the milk, and eating meat.
Parents Blessing Milk to Meat / Discerner / Doers
As a parent it is a blessing to watch our children grow spiritually, moving from the milk of the
word, unto the meat of the word. Of growing and maturing spiritually. We celebrate as we watch
them get it, grasp it, start to apply the word in their lives. As they take the word and use it to
discern their thoughts and actions:
(Hebrews 5:12 NKJV) For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first
principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.
(Hebrews 5:13 NKJV) For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.
(Hebrews 5:14 NKJV) But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their
senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
As they become doers of the word and not just hears:
(James 1:22 NKJV) But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
Center Universe / Developing / Well Done / A Gift
Parents in previous studies we have talked about the importance of our kids seeing us serve
others. Serving others outside of our homes and family so that they can see the example of
serving others, so that they can see they are not the center of the universe, so that they too will
be Christ-center, other-centered, and not self-centered. We also talked in times past about
investing in our kids, developing their personal walk with the Lord, that they will not have our
religion, but their own personal relationship. But make no misunderstanding about what I am
saying, our children must be our number one ministry. When Jesus says:
(Matthew 25:23 NKJV) "His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'
When Jesus says this to us, may He first and foremost be making reference to our raising of our
children to walk in the ways of the Lord. Our children are gifts from the Lord, He is giving them to
us for just a season in our lives, He is entrusting them to us, that comes with great responsibility:
(Psalm 127:3 TLB) Children are a gift from God; they are his reward
God wants us to take our children into a relationship with Him, past the milk of the word, into the
meat of the things of God.
Need a Plan / Satan Has a Plan
Parents, we must make a plan on how we are going to do that, how that is going to happen for
every one of our children. We can’t just leave it to chance, expecting it to fall into place just
because we are saved and we seek after the Lord. Do you realize that Satan wants your child,
he has a plan for your child, he is scheming right now on how he is going to get your child. If he
has a plan, then we too must have a plan and be steadfast about that plan.
Spiritual things Don’t Just Happen / If the Lord Wills / Work
We need a plan incorporated into our daily lives on how we are going to wean our children form
the milk to the meat. Don’t let the spiritual things just happen. We think that is being spiritual, it is
not. People will say about spiritual things, well if the Lord wills we will see you tomorrow at
church, or the ministry. I ask them are you going to work tomorrow? They say of course, or
unfortunately yes. I never hear people say if the Lord wills I’ll go to work. How many of us
prayed today of we should go to work. We don’t, we set the alarm clock so we don’t sleep in, we
get dressed, and we go to work. It is planned into our lives for it is part of our livelihood, we
depend on work and we need work. That is how it needs to be in our personal spiritual life, and
our development for our children. I don’t need to pray about those things, for they are needed,
they are part of our livelihood.
Deuteronomy 6
Deuteronomy 6 is what the Lord commands all parents. You will notice that it isn’t happen
chance, as the subject arises, it is purposeful, it is continual everyday, day-in-day-out
(Deuteronomy 6:1 NKJV) "Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD
your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess,
(Deuteronomy 6:2 NKJV) "that you may fear the LORD your God, to keep all His statutes and His commandments which I
command you, you and your son and your grandson, all the days of your life, and that your days may be prolonged.
(Deuteronomy 6:3 NKJV) "Therefore hear, O Israel, and be careful to observe it, that it may be well with you, and that you
may multiply greatly as the LORD God of your fathers has promised you; 'a land flowing with milk and honey.'
(Deuteronomy 6:4 NKJV) "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one!
(Deuteronomy 6:5 NKJV) "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your
strength.
(Deuteronomy 6:6 NKJV) "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.
(Deuteronomy 6:7 NKJV) "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in
your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
(Deuteronomy 6:8 NKJV) "You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
(Deuteronomy 6:9 NKJV) "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
(Deuteronomy 6:10 NKJV) "So it shall be, when the LORD your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your
fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build,
(Deuteronomy 6:11 NKJV) "houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig,
vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant; when you have eaten and are full;
(Deuteronomy 6:12 NKJV) "then beware, lest you forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the
house of bondage.
Chapter 5 of Deuteronomy was the giving of the Law, and now it flows into application of the
Word of God in chapter 6 of applying it to ourselves, to our children, and notice verse 9, over our
whole house. God says tell them about Me, teach them about Me, speak about Me, everyday.
From rising up in the morning, sitting around, going for walks, to going to bed. God is saying I am
the center, everything else falls in wherever it does.
Teach – Duet 6
This word “Teach /Diligently” - shanan shaw-nan' means to point; intensively to pierce; It wasn’t a
casual teaching, it was very direct (to point), a very specific plan; so much so that it was to pierce
them.
Train – Proverbs 22
We always quote Proverbs 22:
(Proverbs 22:6 NKJV) Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
This word “Train” - chanak khaw-nak' means properly to narrow; figuratively to initiate or
discipline:—dedicate, train up. It means to narrow their lives down to one focus, God, for when
we do that, everything else in their lives will fall into place. If not, it what is said in Deuteronomy
6:12, beware, lest you forget the Lord.
What Teach / Acts 2:42
What is it that we have to have a focused plan on, Acts 2:42, the pillars for spiritual growth.
Memorize this verse:
(Acts 2:42 NKJV) And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in
prayers.
(Acts 2:47 NKJV) ……………………………………………….. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were
being saved.
Notice 4 things here in this verse:
• Apostle’s Doctrine:
• Fellowship:
• Breaking of Bread:
• Prayer:
1.) Apostle’s Doctrine / Need a Plan
Apostle Doctrine is the Word of god, the Scriptures. We need a plan on how they are going to get
the Word. We need a plan on their involvement with the children’s church / youth group. We
need a plan on their daily devotion, or weekly family Bible Study.
John 1:1, if we give them the Word, then we are giving them Jesus, for Jesus is the Word. What
greater thing could we ever give our child, than Jesus. That far exceeds any birthday or vacation
they ever will get:
(John 1:1 NKJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Heb 4:12, it is living and powerful, able to discern the thoughts and intents of a heart. Give them
the word, and when they are away from you, you can rest in that they have the wisdom of God
speaking into their lives for every situation they face:
(Hebrews 4:12 NKJV) For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even
to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
• The Bible is a postgraduate course in the richest library of human experience." ~
Herbert Hoover
• "Gather the riches of God's promises. Nobody can take away from you those texts
from the Bible, which you have learned by heart." ~ Corrie ten Boom
• "The existence of the Bible, as a book for the people, is the greatest benefit which the
human race has ever experienced. Every attempt to belittle it is a crime against
humanity." ~ Immanuel Kant
• "A man has deprived himself of the best there is in the world who has deprived
himself of the Bible." ~ Woodrow Wilson
• "A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education." ~
Theodore Roosevelt
• George Mueller, after having read the Bible through one hundred times with
increasing delight, made this statement:
"I look upon it as a lost day when I have not had a good time over the Word of God. Friends often
say, 'I have so much to do, so many people to see, I cannot find time for Scripture study.' Perhaps there are not
many who have more to do than I. For more than half a century I have never known one day when I had not
more business than I could get through. For 4 years I have had annually about 30,000 letters, and most of these
have passed through my own hands. Then, as pastor of a church with 1,200 believers, great has been my care.
Besides, I have had charge of five immense orphanages; also, at my publishing depot, the printing and
circulating of millions of tracts, books, and Bibles; but I have always made it a rule never to begin work until I
have had a good season with God and His Word. The blessing I have received has been wonderful."
2,) Fellowship / Family Plan
We need a plan on their Christian fellowship. A time apart from sports, television, school
activities, etc. But a time of fellowship as a family, and as a church family. Bible study is not
fellowship, that is the Apostle’s Doctrine. Children’s church and Youth Group is a part of
fellowship, but we need a plan on family dinner together, or going out to eat together, going to
minister at the Assisted Living, Soup Kitchen, family vacation, or family mission trip. A time
where the family is together and you can talk about and speak about God to them. Don’t let life
get so busy that you don’t have time for fellowship.
Devil Make You Busy / Youth Activities / Priorities Through Life
In terms of Bible Study and Fellowship, know this, If the Devil can’t make you bad, he will make
you busy. We have a huge battle in our family over youth sports. It seems that the sporting
activities all have to be on bible study night. Now they even play the games on Sundays. It is a
huge battle against the culture (remember our study back on Lot in chapter 19), for it is now
culturally acceptable for Sundays to be kids games/competition days. No parent wants to be the
bad guy, especially in the split family battle. But here is a vital point parent, you are developing in
your child priorities. If sports and activities get first slot, and then church fills in behind it, then we
are absorbed by the culture, and teaching our kids to fit church into the activities schedule, rather
than fit your activities into your church schedule. See parent it doesn’t end there, for after youth
activities will come college, and it will be study or school activities that take priority over the Word
and fellowship. After graduation it will be employment and that means money and career. In all
these things, fit church around them, rather than fit them around the word and fellowship:
(Hebrews 10:25 NKJV) not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Test Me
In every situation, God has always challenged me and said test Me, try Me in this area. Make me
the priority, and watch how things work better for you. When I was in school, God said you have
3 hours to study for that test, spend the first 30 minutes with me, and watch how I maximize your
study time. He always did, and when I didn't, I'd be up until 3 in the morning still struggling
through. God says to me, got a huge workload today, don't skip your devotion and watch what I
will do. Everytime I skip my devotion, my work day is a struggle. He days I do have my devotion
and things are still tough, I just praise Him saying I can only imagine what it would have been like
if I had skipped our time together, if I had not plugged into the power source. But in the majority
of cases, somehow work flows together for me when I start my day with Him. We need to teach
our kids this. One day Wayne blew me off for our morning devotions, I told him skipping
devotions is like skipping lunch, you'll see. He came home that night going, you were right,
nothing seemed to go right for me today.
Not Talking Bondage
Now I’m not talking about putting you into some type of bondage; take vacation, or maybe your
vacation is that week trip to the competition, take them and enjoy them as a family. I’m not
talking about the once in awhile, I am talking about the week in and week out, month after month,
where these activities are the priorities – again, back to Deuteronomy 6:
(Deuteronomy 6:7 NKJV) "You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in
your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Note: all the same applies to those that have to work, for sometimes you just have to work. Are
you overworking, you will be able to answer that on how is your prayer life and study of the word.
Remember if the devil can’t make you bad, he will make you busy.
3.) Breaking of Bread / Resurrection / Back to the Cross
Taking our kids back to the cross. Take them back to the cross often. Make His death and
resurrection a forefront of your family, a part of your regular conversation. What happens so
often is that once everybody gets saved, we stop talking about the cross and talk more about
growing and maturing. All good things, but keep the cross fresh in your life, and your walk will
always be fresh, for the power is at the cross, where the blood was poured out.
Deanie Jr - 3 years old, Pastor Dean's kid asked his mommy, why did Jesus have to die. She
said so that we might have eternal life. He goes hmmm, does daddy know about this? I told
Wayne that story when the two of us had dinner together; it was the start of our conversation of
the cross. Take them back to the cross often.
4.) Prayer / 30 Seconds / Fasting
Parents, first off, we have to have a plan and purpose in our prayers for our children. We must
not let prayer be something we happen upon when we have some spare time, or those 30-
second bullets. We need a time of specific prayer for them; we need to regularly fast for them.
Fasting is biblical, and it is for the everyday Christian, not the super saints. How serious are you
about your child’s weaning off the milk unto the strong meat, enough to fast a day for them, taking
that time and using it to focus totally on them. Maki a plan that I will fast and pray for my child,
once a week, once a month, whatever it may be. Or skip lunch once a week and pray for them.
(Matthew 17:20 NKJV) So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as
a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible
for you.
(Matthew 17:21 NKJV) "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
Teach Them / Natural as Talking
We also need to teach our children how to pray. Teach them how to call upon the name of the
Lord (Jer 33:3). Reach a point where you are no longer praying and they are listening, but they
are praying themselves. Teach them not to be embarrassed, make prayer as natural as talking in
your family. Let them see you pray.
Singles
If you are single, start praying for your family today, even if you have never met them. I prayed
for my wife almost everyday, before I even knew who she was. I prayed for her, that wherever
she was that God was protecting her, growing her in the things of the Lord. I didn't pray for my
child, I was shortsighted. Pray for your family before you even have one.
Conclusion / Make a Plan – Stick to It
Make a plan for your kids, and stick to it, don’t let their spiritual growth be something that just
happens because you are saved. Purpose it in your heart what you are going to do everyday,
every week to wean them from milk to meat.
Split Families
Those of you with split families, which according to statistics is 50% of us here tonight, your have
to plan around that, and for the most part there is nothing you can do about what happens when
they are with the other half, but there is where your prayer comes in. Ask them to bring drop
them off at church or youth group, ask them not to let them watch this, or go there, but it is pretty
much out of your control therefore you must pray when they are away, and you must have a plan
for development for when they are with you.
First Example
By the way, the first example of a split family in the Bible is Abraham. We will study in the next
verses the problems that arose form the split family, but mainly because of the work of the flesh.
We will see the need that when we they go with the other half, we have to commit them to the
Lord, and trust in what we have done in our “Training Them Up”.
20 Minutes
Take 20 minutes right now, and pray these things for your family, seek the Lord in His leading
and guiding while they are still fresh in your heart.
Genesis 21:9-34: Ishmael Sent Away / Abraham & Abimelech
Make a Covenant
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap Chapter 18 – 20 / 21
We studied through Sodom and Gomorrah in chapters 18-19, and last chapter we see Abraham
having a failure in faith, fearing that he would be killed in Egypt when it was discovered that Sarah
was his wife. The Egyptians frowned upon adultery so they would just kill the man and take the
woman. So Abraham says lie for me, he forgot what God said, it is through you and Sarah that I
will make a you a great nation. That obviously can’t happen if you are dead, because you haven’t
had the promised child yet, the child between you and Sarah. God preserved His plan, He
intervened. And then in the first 8 verses we see that Isaac is born, as promised.
(Genesis 21:9 NKJV) And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne
to Abraham, scoffing.
(Genesis 21:10 NKJV) Therefore she said to Abraham, "Cast out this bondwoman and her
son; for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, namely with Isaac."
(Genesis 21:11 NKJV) And the matter was very displeasing in Abraham's sight because of
his son.
(Genesis 21:12 NKJV) But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight
because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen
to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.
Work of Flesh / Listen to Wife
I refer you back to our past studies on the working of the flesh, trying to help God out always ends
in a bad way. Sarah wants Hagar and Ishmael out of the house and out of their lives. Sarah tells
Abraham cast them out, and God says listen to your wife. We will discuss next why God says to
send them away, we will see that God has a plan for them, and them leaving is part of it. But let
me point out here, God told Abraham listen to your wife. Every man you should mark this verse
in your Bible (if your wives haven't already done so for you), God tells us to listen to the voice of
our wives. The context of Ephesians 5 starts with:
(Ephesians 5:21 NKJV) submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Submission is Not / Listen to Wisdom of Wife / Pick her Brain / Beautiful Balance
Submission is not the man dictating every action of the family. God says to submit to one
another, listen to each other, pray with each other, and talk it over and then make the decision.
Husband’s listens to the wisdom of your wife, have the spirit of humility which is truly submission.
Listen to the other knowing and looking for the insight and perspective that they have, which you
may not see. I should, we should, in all of our decisions ask her, and pick her brain, so that we
may see things from a different perspective. My wife is a beautiful balance to me. I can be very
direct, very lets just get it done; while she is the softer side, the gentler side, the emotional side.
It is good for that can keep me from being very mechanical.
Ok to Ask for Directions
Men we do not have to have the answer to every situation, we do not have to always be right. It
is too much pressure on a man who thinks that being a leader means having to have the perfect
plan, and all the answers to every situation in life. Men it is ok to ask for help, and "ask for
directions". Our wives have insight and input form the Lord, glean that, seize it and apply it so
that you may maximize each situation in life.
(Genesis 21:13 NKJV) "Yet I will also make a nation of the son of the bondwoman,
because he is your seed."
God’s Word
God made this promise to Hagar back in Genesis 16 and He reconfirms it here:
(Genesis 16:10 NKJV) Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that
they shall not be counted for multitude."
God Loves Arab People / Many Being Saved Today
Isaac will be the lineage of Israel, and Ishmael will be the Father of the Arab people. I refer you
back to that study in Genesis 16 and remind you, make no mistake about it, God loves the Arab
people. His hands are stretched out to them today, calling them to Himself. I do not have any
statistics for you, but I believe from personal observation, that in this period of history, more Arabs
are coming to know Jesus as their God than at any other time in the history of mankind. The
gospel is going forth in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Southern parts of Russia that are predominately
Muslim lands, God loves these people, and He shows it here.
(Genesis 21:14 NKJV) So Abraham rose early in the morning, and took bread and a skin of
water; and putting it on her shoulder, he gave it and the boy to Hagar, and sent her away.
Then she departed and wandered in the Wilderness of Beersheba.
(Genesis 21:15 NKJV) And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy
under one of the shrubs.
(Genesis 21:16 NKJV) Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about
a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat
opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept.
Hagar Weeps / How Could Abraham / Encoded 4000 Yrs Ago
This wilderness area of Beersheba is mostly a desert area. Ishmael is about 16 years old, Hagar
sets him under a tree as they both are out of food and water, and appears to have reach the point
of dehydration that comes right before death. She weeps, she can't watch him die. The question
has to be asked how could a dad as wealthy as Abraham send his son off with literally nothing.
We will see a couple interesting reasons, and one of them is that God was sending us a
message, in this event, encrypted 4000 years ago, and decoded 2000.
Indication of Faith: / Gods Word / Gen 20 – God will Preserve
Indication of Faith: First, before get there, we see something happening in Abraham. He is
growing deeper in faith, and he is exhibiting his faith here, and he will exhibit next chapter as he
takes Isaac up to the hill outside Jerusalem called Mount Moriah. Notice Abraham sends him out,
and it is an indication of Abraham's faith. God said I will bless Ishmael, and Abraham believed
what God said He would do, He would do. Just maybe what he learned in chapter 20 of God
protecting Sarah to preserve the "Seed" was the final proof he needed that God's word will come
to pass, no matter what.
Good Word for Parents / Prvb 22
This is a good word for us parents. Train up a child in the way he shall go, and when he is older
he shall return. God will do what He says He will. God will keep that which is committed to Him,
we need to call God on His Word. God has made a commitment to you:
(Proverbs 22:6 NKJV) Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.
Doesn’t Rally a Caravan / Don’t Over Insulate a Child / Kids Can go Crazy
Abraham doesn't rally a caravan to go with them. Parents take note of that. Parents be careful
that we do not over insulate our children from the world. We can't be afraid to let them go here,
or do this, because there is that possibility that something bad may happen to them. If you are an
overprotective parent, it could be an indication that you lack faith in what God says He will do, if
you do what you are called to do, and that is train up a child in the way he should go. I've
watched parent’s shelter kids from everything, and then when those kids finally get out of the
house, they dive headfirst into all the carnality they can. Parents be careful about being
overprotective and overbearing, it could drive your kids away.
Split Family
I might also note here those of you living the split family life. We have to train-up our children and
then trust and commit them to the Lord that He will take care of them when they are out of our
care. We invest in them, and when they are gone we intercede for them, and believe God on His
Word, that He will take care of them. It won't be perfect, there will be some pains, split families
brings troubles to the kids, look at Ishmael.
Illustration / Allegory / Make no Provision for the Flesh
Secondly this story is an illustration, an allegory, and illustration of how we are to treat the flesh.
As we have studied in the past Ishmael is a picture of the flesh, and Isaac is a picture of the
Spirit:
(Galatians 4:22 NKJV) For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
(Galatians 4:23 NKJV) But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman
through promise,
(Galatians 4:24 NKJV) which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which
gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar;
We are to starve the flesh, make no provision for the flesh:
(Romans 13:14 NKJV) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Make no provision for the flesh, don't send it out with a bunch of stuff to feed the flesh. Our flesh
will never be satisfied, it will always be crying our for more. Just a little, will never be enough, cut
it off whatever it is that you are feeding to your flesh, whether it is gossip, drugs, illicit sex, just cut
it off, starve it out. It is possible that we feed the flesh to the point that the Spirit is the one tht is
starving, therefore make no provision for the flesh.
Illumination / 4000 yrs Ago / The Law – Gal 4 / It has Got to Go
This event happened 4000 years ago, God has it recorded for us, and He encodes it with a
beautiful message of freedom for us. He reveals the code to us 2000 years ago through the
Apostle Paul in Galatians 4. Hagar we are told represents the Law, and Sarah represents grace.
Galatians 4 tells us that the Law has got to go, for we are not under the Law but grace. Jesus
brought that message to us:
(John 1:17 NKJV) For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Schoolmaster
The was to show us our need for a Savior:
(Galatians 3:24 KJV) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
(Romans 3:20 NKJV) Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the
knowledge of sin.
Galatians 4
But Paul in Galatians 4 says this picture of Hagar and Sarah was an illustration, symbolic of how
we are to not live under the Law, but Grace. Don’t put yourself under bondage or legalism:
(Galatians 4:22 NKJV) For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman.
(Galatians 4:23 NKJV) But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman
through promise,
(Galatians 4:24 NKJV) which things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which
gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar;
(Galatians 4:25 NKJV) for this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in
bondage with her children;
(Galatians 4:26 NKJV) but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all.
(Galatians 4:27 NKJV) For it is written: "Rejoice, O barren, You who do not bear! Break forth and shout, You who are not
in labor! For the desolate has many more children Than she who has a husband."
(Galatians 4:28 NKJV) Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise.
(Galatians 4:29 NKJV) But, as he who was born according to the flesh then persecuted him who was born according to
the Spirit, even so it is now.
(Galatians 4:30 NKJV) Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? "Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son
of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman."
(Galatians 4:31 NKJV) So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.
We Can’t Keep the Law – Need Help / Self-Righteous to Self-Condemning
It is amazing that we are dealing with the flesh, yet we are told the Law, the rules and regulations
have got to go. Why, because we can't keep the rules in and of ourselves, we need the help of
the Spirit. When we are able to keep the rules and regulations we become self-righteous; but
eventually we will fail, and then be devastated, and we go from self-righteous to self-condemning.
The resultant of that is we will quit our prayer time, our study time, and give up.
Regulations Produce Rebellion / Grace allows the Spirit to Move
Regulations will always produce rebellion. Don't put the regulation trip on people or yourself.
Teach and give them grace, and let the Spirit of the Living God works those things out in their
lives.
(Romans 12:1 NKJV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living
sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
(Romans 12:2 NKJV) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you
may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
It is though the study of the word, fellowship of prayer, service unto the Lord that a person allows
the Spirit to move and work in their lives.
(Genesis 21:17 NKJV) And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to
Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard
the voice of the lad where he is.
(Genesis 21:18 NKJV) "Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make
him a great nation."
(Genesis 21:19 NKJV) Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she
went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink.
(Genesis 21:20 NKJV) So God was with the lad; and he grew and dwelt in the wilderness,
and became an archer.
(Genesis 21:21 NKJV) He dwelt in the Wilderness of Paran; and his mother took a wife for
him from the land of Egypt.
God Told Hagar
The Lord says why are you wailing, didn't I say to you before Ishmael will be a great nation:
(Genesis 16:10 NKJV) Then the Angel of the LORD said to her, "I will multiply your descendants exceedingly, so that
they shall not be counted for multitude."
God Led Hagar to Desert / Innocent Victim
Do you see here, God allowed Hagar to this desert place. She really was an innocent victim in
this whole matter, yet God allowed her to come to this desert and desperate place. Christian God
will lead us to desert places.
God Opened Her Eyes – Life Giving Water / Relax in Desert – Beauty / Repent
It says and then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well. God opened her eyes and there
before her was a refreshing well, a life giving well. If you are in the desert for no fault of your
own, no sin in your life, then relax in the desert, for the desert has its own beauty, it is a different
beauty, but still beautiful. (If you are in the desert because of your sin, then repent, and then get
something out of the desert, God will bring His beauty after you bring your repentance.)
Ask God to Open Your Eyes
If you are in the desert than maybe you just need to ask God to open your eyes, for the spring of
water may be right before your eyes, something that flows right from the hand of God, a well that
springs right form the heart of God, then you can drink and partake with your lord and your Love.
So Ishmael grows, and he will become the Father of the Arab Nation. Do you notice Ishmael
marries a woman from Egypt, which Scriptural is a picture of the flesh and the world.
(Genesis 21:22 NKJV) And it came to pass at that time that Abimelech and Phichol, the
commander of his army, spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do.
Same Abimelech
Abimelech could just be a Title for the King of this area, but I have no reason not to believe that
this is the same Abimelech we just studied in chapter 20; the one Abraham lied to and God
intervened before.
(Genesis 21:23 NKJV) "Now therefore, swear to me by God that you will not deal falsely
with me, with my offspring, or with my posterity; but that according to the kindness that I
have done to you, you will do to me and to the land in which you have dwelt."
(Genesis 21:24 NKJV) And Abraham said, "I will swear."
(Genesis 21:25 NKJV) Then Abraham rebuked Abimelech because of a well of water which
Abimelech's servants had seized.
(Genesis 21:26 NKJV) And Abimelech said, "I do not know who has done this thing; you
did not tell me, nor had I heard of it until today."
(Genesis 21:27 NKJV) So Abraham took sheep and oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and
the two of them made a covenant.
(Genesis 21:28 NKJV) And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
(Genesis 21:29 NKJV) Then Abimelech asked Abraham, "What is the meaning of these
seven ewe lambs which you have set by themselves?"
(Genesis 21:30 NKJV) And he said, "You will take these seven ewe lambs from my hand,
that they may be my witness that I have dug this well."
(Genesis 21:31 NKJV) Therefore he called that place Beersheba, because the two of them
swore an oath there.
(Genesis 21:32 NKJV) Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba. So Abimelech rose with
Phichol, the commander of his army, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.
Learn from this Confrontation
Now there is a confrontation over a well that Abraham had dug and Abimelech men had moved in
on. Abimelech is saying hey up to this day I knew nothing about this. None of us like
confrontations, but we can learn a lot from this one. Notice:
Humility / Years Prove Out God’s Work
Humility: back in verse 22 it says that it came to pass. Abraham shows humility in that we don't
see him trying to defend himself. Remember the last time these guys met Abimelech is rebuking
Abraham for lying. But here we don't see Abraham trying to defend himself or better said,
advertise himself as a man of God. Rather he lets the years prove out that he is God's man.
Abraham outlives his critics.
Only What is Real Is Humble
A good example for us; everyday show humility; don't try to prove out our walk with your mouth.
Live it and they will see it. For only what is real can dare to be humble. If it is not real, then it has
to be promoted and convinced. If we have to do that, then we need to examine ourselves and
ask why do I feel the need to? Is it real?
Honesty / Flattery – Still Deals with Situation
Honesty: look at Abraham's honesty. Abimelech flatters him by telling him it is obvious that God
is with you, but Abraham doesn't let the compliment get in the way of what needs to be dealt with.
There are some people that know how to smooth talk a situation, but we would do well to not let
their smooth words and flattery let a bad situation continue.
Charity / Reconcile – Right / Chose Battles Wisely
Charity: Look at Abraham’s charity. He doesn't say you are a liar, you knew. Instead he accepts
his words. Sometimes it is not worth it to prove a point. It is better to reconcile than be right.
Chose your battles wisely, don’t engage in a war over something that really has no meaning in
what you are trying to accomplish. Notice, this was Abraham's chance to take the lead if you will.
He could have said your guys were moving in on my well, what's wrong with your people, why are
they causing trouble. Last time Abimelech rebuked him, Abraham could rebuke him, and be "the
man". We are like that, we blow it, and then we wait for the othr person to blow it so we can rise
up over them again, show them they are wrong, and they aren't better than us. Not Abraham, he
would rather reconcile than be right.
Clarity / Make Covenant – Wont happen Again
Clarity: Look at Abraham’s Clarity and Wisdom. He makes a covenant, an agreement, so that it
doesn't happen again. It is wise in a confrontation to be clear what needs to happen in the future
so that this doesn't happen again. Just because a person talks a lot, doesn't mean they are a
good communicator. Talk, and be sure that everyone involved understands.
(Genesis 21:33 NKJV) Then Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba, and there
called on the name of the LORD, the Everlasting God.
Interestingly there are 12 different species of tamarisk trees in Israel and there are 12 tribes of
Israel.
Not Ashamed to Worship Presence of Neighbors / New Name to Worship
You could follow Abraham’s journey by looking for the wells he dug and the altars he built (Gen.
12:7-8; 13:4, 18). He was not ashamed to build his altar in the presence of his neighbors and
offer his worship to the Lord. A new name for God is introduced here: El Olam, “the Everlasting
God.” Abraham already knew El Elyon (“God Most High”—14:19, 22) and El Shaddai (“God
Almighty, the All-Sufficient One”—17:1); but now he had a new name to use in his worship. It is
important as we go through life that we learn more and more about God so we can worship Him
better.
All These Will Pass / Not the Everlasting God
What an encouragement to know “the Everlasting God”! Wells would disappear, trees would be
cut down, ewe lambs would grow up and die, altars would crumble, and treaties would perish; but
the Everlasting God would remain. This Everlasting God had made an everlasting covenant with
Abraham and his descendants (17:7, 13, 19), and He had given them the land of Canaan as an
everlasting possession (17:8; 48:4). As Abraham faced the coming years, he knew that God
would not change and that “underneath [were] the everlasting arms” (Deut. 33:27).
Plants a Tree / Form of Creative Worship
Abraham plants a tree as a form of worship. It was his form of creative worship. This is my
express of love to you. Don’t limit yourself on your express of worship to the Lord. It isn’t just
limited to here in the sanctuary during our time of singing. You can express your worship to the
Lord through writing poetry, writing and playing a song just to Him, creative dance, paint a
beautiful sunset to Him, or write Him a letter telling Him of your love and adoration for Him. God
gives these gifts, these creative abilities that you may express your love to Him. And as you do,
God will reveal Himself to you in new ways; as for Abraham he saw and called upon the
Everlasting God.
(Genesis 21:34 NKJV) And Abraham stayed in the land of the Philistines many days.
30 Years / Great Happiness / Training Up Isaac
The many years is probably about 30, Isaac will be about 33 years old, the same age as Jesus
was when he makes the walk up Mount Moriah (Gen. 22). It must have been a peaceful time for
Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac, and a time of great happiness as they watched their precious son
grow up. Little did they know the great test that lay before them, but God was preparing them,
and they would be ready. Abraham will spend the next 30 years training Isaac up, telling him
about the God Most High, the Almighty God, the Everlasting God, and we will see Isaac
submitting himself to the will of his father.
Genesis Chapter 22
Sacrificing of Issac - Picture Perfect
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap / Abraham’s Life Defined / The Promised Seed
Chapter 22 is truly one of the most powerful chapters dealing with His-Story. In past chapters we
see Abraham whose life was defined by pitching tents and building altars. God had given him the
promise of a child, and that through his child all the nations of the world would be blessed. So
now it is about 25 years after the promise, Isaac is born, the promised Seed.
Message Outside our Time
Genesis 22 is a message given to us from outside our time domain, written 4000 years ago, and
fulfilled 2000 years ago on the cross.
Where 3 Days Prophesied / 1 Cor 15
Paul, writing to the Corinthians, speaks of the gospel that he had preached to them. He said the
gospel that he had preached to them was that of Christ, who died, and was three days dead but
who rose on the third day. He speaks of it like it was from the Old Testament. Now, where does
the Old Testament scriptures teach that Christ died for our sins and was resurrected on the third
day? As I look at the Old Testament scriptures, this must be the reference to which Paul was
referring:
(1 Corinthians 15:1 NKJV) Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you
received and in which you stand,
(1 Corinthians 15:2 NKJV) by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you
believed in vain.
(1 Corinthians 15:3 NKJV) For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins
according to the Scriptures,
(1 Corinthians 15:4 NKJV) and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
Jonah – Jesus
Jesus Himself tells us that Jonah is a picture of Him spending 3 days dead so that is a given:
(Matthew 12:39 NKJV) But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no
sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
(Matthew 12:40 NKJV) "For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man
be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Gen 22 / Hosea 12
Here in Genesis 22, is another. The Prophet Hosea said:
(Hosea 12:10 NKJV) I have also spoken by the prophets, And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the
witness of the prophets."
(Romans 15:4 NKJV) For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience
and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.
Picture Perfect / Similitudes
This study we will see that it is picture perfect. It is a picture of the One who loves you, and would
die for you. We will see all the similitudes of the gospel right here in Genesis 22.
Issac a Type of Jesus
Before we get into the text lets look at some comparisons of how Isaac is a picture, a type of
Jesus Christ:
• Isaac was a miracle birth in that he was born to man and woman past childbearing age.
Jesus was born a virgin birth.
• Isaac was promised a long time before his birth, 20 years. Jesus was promised 4000 years
before His birth (Genesis 3:15).
• God named both of them before their birth.
• Both Son's delighted their Father.
• Both of them were obedient to their Father, even to the point of death. Genesis 22 /
Philippians 2:8.
Isaac is a type of Jesus Christ; Jesus is the fulfillment of the type.
(Genesis 22:1 NKJV) Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and
said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
Verse 1 - Now it came to pass after these things: Probably a period of 25-30 years or so after the
weaning of Isaac.
(Genesis 22:2 NKJV) Then He said, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you
love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the
mountains of which I shall tell you."
God Forgets Our Sin
Verse 2 - Take now your son, your only son Isaac - Here is a blessing encoded here, God forgets
our sins, He doesn't remember them. God, here, does not recognize Ishmael. Ishmael was the
work of the flesh and God refused to recognize him. He is not the child of promise or the work of
the Spirit.
We often try to offer to God the works of our flesh and God will not accept them. So much of the
endeavor for God is done in the flesh. That is one of the weaknesses of the church today. We are
endeavoring, in the ability and energy of the flesh, to do the work of the Spirit. The Psalmist said,
"Except the LORD build the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the LORD keep the city,
the watchman waketh but in vain." (Ps.127:1). We're going to be surprised when we stand before
God and our works are then tried by fire; because, so many of them will be burned. The works of
the flesh will all burn. I've tried for years, in my flesh, to do the work of God and to build the
church of Jesus Christ, but it was all for nothing. I spent a lot of years laboring in vain. God
doesn't recognize the work of your flesh, He wants the work of the Spirit in your life.
God is Love
Verse 2 -whom you love: Love is probably one of the most important words in the Bible, for it is
the very essence of who God is, God is love:
(1 John 4:8 NKJV) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
First Mention / Father & Son
Our Similitude, Interestingly this is the first time love is mentioned in the Scriptures. There is a
study of the Bible which takes the first use of a word and usually sets a pattern for it's use
throughout the Bible. This is called "First Mention." When you are studying a certain word or
subject, you should always go back to the first mention of the word to get some light upon its
meaning. This is the first mention of "love" and what is interesting is that it is the love of a father
for his son. We hear a lot about mother love, but the first mention of love in the Bible is not about
a mother for her child or a husband for his wife; but, of a father for his son.
First Mention in NT
What is the first mention of love in the New Testament?
• In Matthew's Gospel, we are told that when Jesus was baptized that the voice of God spoke
from heaven saying, "This is my beloved son."
• In Mark's Gospel the first mention of love is also at the baptism of Jesus where Mark records
the voice from heaven saying, "This is my beloved son."
• In Luke's Gospel, the first mention of love is again at the baptism of Jesus when God said,
"This is my beloved son."
• The Synoptic Gospels all agree, but what is the first mention of love in the Gospel of John?
John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son..." God's
love for the world in that He gave His only son.
Area of Jerusalem
Verse 2 - and go to the land of Moriah: The land of Moriah was the area of Jerusalem. Abraham
lived down by Beer-Sheba, about thirty miles away from Jerusalem. You could make about ten
miles a day walking and so, it was about a three day journey.
Offer – Lift Up / Moriah – Foreseen of God / Sneak Preview 2000 Years Early
Verse 2 - and offer him there as a burnt offering: Offer means to "lift up, and Moriah means
"foreseen of Jehovah". Jesus said:
(John 12:31 NKJV) "Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
(John 12:32 NKJV) "And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."
(John 12:33 NKJV) This He said, signifying by what death He would die.
Moriah you see is a sneak preview of the coming attraction. God is sending mankind a message,
a message of His love and mercy. God is against human sacrifice, He never would ask Abraham
to do something that is contrary to His ways. God is allowing Abraham to play a part in
presenting the gospel 2000 years before it happens. Did Abraham know it, I don’t know, all I do
know is that he was faithful in his role, and so was Isaac.
(Genesis 22:3 NKJV) So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and
took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt
offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
No Hesitation
Verse 3 - So Abraham rose early in the morning - Abraham doesn't hesitate he awakes early in
the morning and goes. When the Lord speaks to us we do well not to hesitate or we may miss
out what He wants to show us or use us for.
Lad – Young Men / Maybe 33 / Forget Sunday School
Verse 3 - and took two of his young men with him: The word, in the Hebrew, for young men is the
same word used for "lad" in verse five, speaking of Isaac. So, Isaac was about the same age as
these young men that went along with them. Based on the time passing, Isaac was probably
about 25-33 years old. Forget the Sunday school pictures, Isaac was a full grown man. Based
on the sum of all the other parts, of how each point is clearly a symbol of Jesus, I have no
problem believing that Isaac was 33, the same age Jesus was when He went to the cross.
2 Men / Via Delrosa / Thief of Hearts
Our Similitude, When Jesus would walk the Via Delrosa on His way to the Cross, he had two men
with Him. Two thieves, which I think is a good picture for Jesus is the greatest thief of all, for He
will still your heart with His love.
That Place
Verse 3 - and went to the place of which God had told him: to the place, it will be mentioned
again in verse 4 and 9; this isn't any ole place, this is a very specific place.
The Temple Mount / 2 Chron 3
This is another marvelous prophecy by Abraham. The mount of the LORD is Mount Moriah and
today is known as the Temple Mount. In II Chronicles we read:
(2 Chronicles 3:1 NKJV) Now Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the
Lord had appeared to his father David, at the place that David had prepared on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.
NT / Calvary
In the New Testament we read of “to that palce”:
(Luke 23:33 NKJV) And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals,
one on the right hand and the other on the left.
Look at Geography / Golgotha
If you will take a careful look at the geography of mount Moriah, you will note that the Temple
Mount is at the side of the mountain and not at the top of mount Moriah. Mount Moriah continues
on a gentle slope from the Temple Mount up to the top. However, when Solomon built the temple
and the walls and many of the buildings, he did it on the north side of the city where the rock is
perfect for building. It lays in stratas and all they have to do is cut it. That is where they quarried
the stone and so on the north side, mount Moriah has had a great chunk taken out of it. Originally
at Abraham's time this stone had not been quarried and so from the temple mount, the gentle
slope would have come all the way up to the top of mount Moriah which is now across some sort
of valley from the wall of Jerusalem. If you stand near Herod's Gate on the top of the wall of
Jerusalem, though you are standing nearly sixty feet from the ground down below, the wall is only
twelve feet high, because of the bedrock. As a result of quarrying the stone, there are caves
which resemble a skull. Thus the name of the place became Golgotha which means, "the Place
of the Skull," or in Latin is called, "Calvary." Above the skull, Golgotha or Calvary, was originally
mount Moriah and no doubt when Abraham went to the mount, he went to the top which was
customary in those days when you built an altar. So, on the top of the mountain where Abraham
went to sacrifice Isaac, some two thousand years later; because, God so loved the world, he
gave his only begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sins. Interesting, I was looking at a topography
map, and the one I was looking at said the peak of Golgotha is 777 meters.
Exact same Place
In the same place where Abraham built his altar, God would sacrifice His Son and the prophecy
of Abraham was fulfilled when he said, "God will provide Himself a sacrifice." In the mount of the
LORD it shall be seen and it was, two thousand years later. The picture of Abraham sacrificing
his son is a foreshadowing of that which God would do for love of the world in sacrificing His only
begotten Son.
(Genesis 22:4 NKJV) Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar
off.
3 days Dead / God Got a Problem / Heb 11 / Abraham Believed the Ress
Verse 4 - Then on the third day: For three days, as they journeyed, Isaac was as dead in the eyes
of his father, Abraham. Nonetheless, Abraham, the whole while, was believing in the resurrection.
He could not understand what was going on nor could he understand the command of God. He
saw a real dilemma, God's dilemma. God had said that through Isaac would his seed be called
and Isaac was not married nor did he have any children. The "seed" has to come through Isaac,
but God is saying to offer him as a sacrifice and the only way this can happen is for Isaac to be
resurrected. In Hebrews it says,
(Hebrews 11:17 NKJV) By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises
offered up his only begotten son,
(Hebrews 11:18 NKJV) of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called,"
(Hebrews 11:19 NKJV) concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received
him in a figurative sense.
(Genesis 22:5 NKJV) And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey;
the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."
First Mention of Worship / To Bow Down – To yield my Will
Verse 5 - the lad and I will go yonder and worship: This is the first mention of worship in the Bible.
Sometimes as we sing praises to God and lift our hands, we say that we have been worshipping
God, but technically that is not what the Bible terms as worship. The word worship means "to bow
down." It is a reference to the "bowing down" of my will to God. You can lift your hands and sing
with your eyes closed, but you may be resisting God in your heart. What Abraham is really saying
to these young men is, "We're going to go up to that mountain and bow down our will to God."
We Will Come Back - Plural
Verse 5 - and we will come back to you: So, Abraham declares that they're going to worship and
they will come again. The word "come" here is a plural verb. We will go and we will come back
again to you is what Abraham is saying. He doesn't know how they will both come back, but he
believes God's promise that his seed will be called through Isaac.
(Genesis 22:6 NKJV) So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac
his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together.
The Wood – The Cross / The Government
Verse 6 - So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son: Even as
Jesus had the cross laid upon Him and He bore it toward Golgotha. In Isaiah 9:
(Isaiah 9:6 NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And
His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
(Isaiah 9:7 NKJV) Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over
His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the
LORD of hosts will perform this.
The government is upon His shoulders, that is the Cross; that is why He has the right to rule over
me, reign over me, because He alone was the sacrifice, He alone is the substitute.
Fire – God’s Judgement / Holy God / Ish 59 – Hab 1
Verse 6 - and he took the fire in his hand: Notice that the Son carried the wood, but that the
Father carried the fire. Fire represents judgement, as God the Father would hurl His wrath for
man's sin upon His Son Jesus Christ. God is too Holy to wink at sin, He must judge it:
(Isaiah 59:1 NKJV) Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.
(Isaiah 59:2 NKJV) But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
(Habakkuk 1:13 NKJV) You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on
those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?
The Knife
Verse 6 - and a knife: The Knife - Jesus would be pierced on His side.
The 2 Together / The Separation / If Only I could Get This
Verse 6 - and the two of them went together: The two of them walked together, they were in
agreement on what had to be done. For Jesus, this would be the hardest part, the separation
from the Father:
(Psalms 22:1 NKJV) My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the
words of My groaning?
Jesus was terrified to be out of commune form the Father. The Father and Son always walked
together, they never knew separation, yet for those 6 hours on the cross that one Friday, the
Father would have to turn His back on sin, for He is too Holy to behold it. I believe Jesus sweat
drops of blood in the Garden not because of the pain of the Cross, but because the pain of being
separated form the Father. If only we could see the way Jesus saw, for if we could we would be
terrified to be out of commune with the Father.
(Genesis 22:7 NKJV) But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he
said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the
lamb for a burnt offering?"
(Genesis 22:8 NKJV) And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb
for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together.
Provide Himself / Old KJV / Lamb Not a Ram / Prophetic
Verse 8 - My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering: Not that God will
provide for Himself, as you read in the New King James translation, (a poor translation) but God
will provide Himself:
(Genesis 22:8 KJV) And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both
of them together.
Here is a very important point to catch, in verse 13 it will be a ram caught in the thicket, not a
lamb. It is a huge difference to the story. They are two different words in the Hebrew. (The word
for Lamb here is the same one used in Exodus 12:3-5 for the Passover Lamb, and the same word
used for Lamb in Isaiah 53;7). This is a prophecy of Abraham concerning Jesus Christ, God the
Son, who was provided as a lamb slain for our sins, the substitute for our sins:
(1 Peter 1:18 NKJV) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless
conduct received by tradition from your fathers,
(1 Peter 1:19 NKJV) but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
John 1:29
And John, the Baptist, cried, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
(John 1:29). Marvelous prophecy that God would provide Himself as the lamb for the burnt-
offering:
(John 1:29 NKJV) The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes
away the sin of the world!
Ish 53
Isaiah the substitute Lamb:
(Isaiah 53:4 NKJV) Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by
God, and afflicted.
(Isaiah 53:5 NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The
chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:6 NKJV) All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has
laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
(Isaiah 53:7 NKJV) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the
slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
(Genesis 22:9 NKJV) Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And
Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son
and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
Isaac had the Power / Submitted to Father
Isaac was approximately twenty-five to thirty-three years old at this point. The next advent that we
read of is the death of Sarah and Isaac was about thirty-seven when his Mother died. Surely
Isaac could have overpowered his Dad, approximately one hundred and thirty years of age; but,
he submitted instead.
Jesus in the Garden / Cords of Love
Even as Jesus, when going to the cross, submitted to the will of the Father but could have
escaped it. In the Garden, He prayed:
(Luke 22:42 NKJV) saying, "Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be
done."
When the soldiers came to arrest Him and Peter pulled out his sword, "Then said Jesus unto
Peter:
(John 18:11 NKJV) So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has
given Me?"
Jesus was submitting to the Father by going to the cross and Isaac was submitting to his father
by being bound on the altar. Jesus could have called fire from heaven to escape the cross if He
so chose, but he didn't. He was not bound by the cords, but by the cords of love for you and for
me.
(Genesis 22:10 NKJV) And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his
son.
Look at the progression of Abraham's faith. Our faith is a work in progress.
Imagine Abraham’s Tears
I imagine, at this point, that Isaac was looking up at his Dad and saw the tears rolling down
Abraham's cheek. This was the hardest test, Abraham ever had. He believed that somehow God
was going to bring Isaac back to life. He didn't know how, but God had promised that through
Isaac would Abraham's seed be called and he believed God. It would be hard to imagine whether
Isaac or Abraham suffered more. When Jesus hung on the cross, who suffered the most? We
don't often think of the pain of the Father's heart when the Son was being sacrificed for our sins. I
would have to say that the Father was suffering the most.
(Genesis 22:11 NKJV) But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said,
"Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am."
(Genesis 22:12 NKJV) And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to
him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only
son, from Me."
James 2 / Faith Without Works
James gives us a very interesting commentary on this particular passage of scripture:
(James 2:21 NKJV) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
(James 2:22 NKJV) Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
(James 2:23 NKJV) And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
James uses this as part of his argument that faith has to produce works that are in harmony with
what you declare that you believe:
(James 2:17 NKJV) Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
The faith of Abraham was demonstrated in the fact of his willingness to offer his son.
(Genesis 22:13 NKJV) Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was
a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it
up for a burnt offering instead of his son.
(Genesis 22:14 NKJV) And Abraham called the name of the place, The-LORD-Will-Provide;
as it is said to this day, "In the Mount of The LORD it shall be provided."
Lord Will Provide / God’s Provision Found at the Cross / HIMSELF – NOT FOR HIMSELF
Verse 14 - The-LORD-Will-Provide – In the Hebrew, Jehovahjireh. The Lord will provide, and a
Name for all of us to draw into our hearts and minds. Whatever you want to see of God's
provision in your life will always be found on the Mount. When you doubt God's love for you, His
care for you, His provision for you, then go back to the Mount, and lift your eyes up and you will
see His provision. Back in verse 8, Himself will He provide. God will provide Himself, not for
Himself. Here it was a ram, the Lamb was still yet to come.
Man – Lamb - Worm
God became a man, the man became the Lamb, and then "catch this" the Lamb became the
worm. Psalm 22 the great Messianic Prophecy concerning Jesus:
(Psalms 22:6 NKJV) But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
(Psalms 22:7 NKJV) All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,
(Psalms 22:8 NKJV) "He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in
Him!"…………………………………..
(Psalms 22:14 NKJV) I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted
within Me.
(Psalms 22:15 NKJV) My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to
the dust of death.
(Psalms 22:16 NKJV) For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My
hands and My feet;
(Psalms 22:17 NKJV) I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me.
(Psalms 22:18 NKJV) They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.
Tolaf / Scarlet / Red Spot / Reproduction
I've become a worm, the word there is "tolaf". Back in the days of Jesus if you wanted to make a
scarlet garment, you would get these worms and grind them up into a solution, and then dip the
garment in the solution and it would become red/scarlet. These worms, these Tolafs, when they
would reproduce they would climb to the limb of a tree, then during reproduction it would die. As
it dies it would leave a red spot on the tree limb. So it was during reproduction that it would die.
Psalm 22, I am a worm, not a man, so that I might die for Ray and the church of Anne Arundel
County, and Christians everywhere.
White as Snow
Then according to Zondervan Pictural Enclopedia, after 3-5 days the red spot dries up and turns
white and then flakes off and falls to the ground:
(Isaiah 1:18 NKJV) "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They
shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
From King to Worm – For Me
God became a man, the man became the Lamb, the Lamb became the worm. From the King of
the Universe, to the worm of the earth. He became like me, so He can take my sin, die in my
place, pay my price for offended the Holy God. God provided Himself the Lamb.
(Genesis 22:15 NKJV) Then the Angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time out of
heaven,
(Genesis 22:16 NKJV) and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the LORD, because you
have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son;
Going back to verse twelve, the angel of the LORD said, "...thou hast not withheld thy son, thine
only son from "me." The angel of the LORD is none other than Jesus Christ.
The Book of Hebrews talks about the problem that God has when he wants to make an oath to
man. When you make an oath, you swear by something greater; but, God can't swear by
anything greater so He swears by Himself. There is nothing higher to swear by. God wanted to
establish the promises by two immutable things. Number one It is impossible for God to lie.
(Genesis 22:17 NKJV) "blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your
descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and
your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.
(Genesis 22:18 NKJV) "In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because
you have obeyed My voice."
All Nations Blessed
Verse 18 - In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed
My voice.": - So, we become the beneficiaries of the obedience of Abraham. Blessed because of
Jesus, who was born of the "seed" of Abraham
For many years it was thought that there were only three thousand stars in the sky. Before the
age of telescopes, guys would sit out and count the stars at night. Several Astronomers of ancient
times, counted the stars and came up with numbers in the area of three to six thousand that are
visible to the naked eye; so, the early skeptics cast doubts on the Bible being inspired by God.
God made a severe mistake here by indicating that the stars were too numerous to count but
then along came the telescope and it has been estimated that the number of stars, in our
universe, are ten to the twenty-fifth power. It has also been estimated, by the number of cubic feet
of sand that exist, that there are probably ten to the twenty-fifth power grains of sand on our
earth.
(Genesis 22:19 NKJV) So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went
together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
Where is Isaac
Now, Where was Isaac? It doesn't mention him coming back with Abraham, although we're sure
he did. The Spirit does not mention it deliberately, because Isaac was a type of Christ.
Jesus Will Return For His Bride
After Christ's death, he was taken up into heaven and will not appear again until the Holy Spirit
brings back the "bride" for the Son. Today the Holy Spirit is gathering, from among the world, a
"bride" for the Son. When the "bride" is gathered, the Holy Spirit will bring "her" to the Son and He
shall arise to meet them in the clouds of the air and so shall we ever be with the LORD. Isaac
doesn't appear on the scene again until the time when his bride is brought to him by Eliezer,
servant of Abraham who is a type of the Holy Spirit in Genesis 24.
(Genesis 22:20 NKJV) Now it came to pass after these things that it was told Abraham,
saying, "Indeed Milcah also has borne children to your brother Nahor:
(Genesis 22:21 NKJV) "Huz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram,
(Genesis 22:22 NKJV) "Chesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel."
(Genesis 22:23 NKJV) And Bethuel begot Rebekah. These eight Milcah bore to Nahor,
Abraham's brother.
(Genesis 22:24 NKJV) His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham,
Thahash, and Maachah.
Strange Way to End / After these Things / Lord Provide – Rom 8:32
Seems like a strange thing to add on to the end of this amazing story, but look at this. Whose
mentioned in verse 23, it is Rebekah, Isaac's wife. Verse 20 starts with "after these things", after
what things? After 3 days of being dead, after the resurrection, the Bride is brought forth to the
Son. This is a picture of you and me. Jesus become a worm for me, so that I might become His
Bride. Jehovah Jireh, the Lord provides.
(Romans 8:32 NKJV) He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how
shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
What is it that you need today? Jehovah Jireh
the Lord will provide.
Genesis Chapter 23
The Death of Sarah
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Gen 22 Trail / Gen 23 / Turn to Each Other / Ecc 4:12
Abraham in Genesis 22 was offering up his son Isaac, and here in chapter 23 we see him letting
go of his wife Sarah. We can, I have, let chapter 22 be the pinnacle of Abraham's testing, faith,
and trials in his life; but I now see how wrong I was about that. I believe Chapter 23 is no more
easier for Abraham than chapter 22 was. There is during the hardships of life, such as losing a
child, financial ruin or hardship, illness diagnosis, that spouses have each other to turn to find
consolation and comfort. They can turn to each other, hold each other, speaks words of love and
encouragement to each to help hem through/in the hard time:
(Ecclesiastes 4:9 NKJV) Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.
(Ecclesiastes 4:10 NKJV) For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he
has no one to help him up.
(Ecclesiastes 4:11 NKJV) Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?
(Ecclesiastes 4:12 NKJV) Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is
not quickly broken.
Left Alone / Dark – Long / Empty House / Left Walk Alone
But when the spouse is taken home to be with the Lord, then one spouse is left alone. Friends
and kids can comfort somewhat the pain of the loss, but nothing can ever compare. The days
seem ever so dark, and the nights so-so long. The empty bed, the empty favorite chair, the
coldness of an empty house, life will never be the same. The morning routine of coffee together,
or the afternoon phone call at work, the evening walks, changed in a moment. The person, that
one only person, that has been there month after month, year after year, is gone, and the one
spouse is left to walk alone.
Great Trial / Ask Anyone Been There
This is a great trial for Abraham; it usually is not viewed as such in light of Genesis 22, but ask
any grieving spouse today and they will tell you it is.
The Outline for Chapter 23:
• Abraham's Grief - Genesis 23:1-6
• Sarah's Grave - Genesis 23: 7-9
• Ephron's Gift - Genesis 23:10-20
Abraham's Grief - Geneis 23:1-6
(Genesis 23:1 NKJV) Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the
years of the life of Sarah.
(Genesis 23:2 NKJV) So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan,
and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her.
(Genesis 23:3 NKJV) Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons
of Heth, saying,
(Genesis 23:4 NKJV) "I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a
burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight."
(Genesis 23:5 NKJV) And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him,
(Genesis 23:6 NKJV) "Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your
dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial
place, that you may bury your dead."
Verse 1 - Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years: This is the only woman in the Bible
whose age was given, I believe it is here by Holy Spirit design to give us an understanding of
Isaac's age. If Sarah was 127 years old when she died, that means that Isaac was 37 years old
at this time. This was immediately after the story of the sacrifice of Isaac. You can put out of your
mind the pictures in your Sunday school papers, where you see Abraham leading a small boy up
a mountain and the boy is unaware that his father is going to offer him as a sacrifice. The very
next event, in the scripture, is the death of Sarah and Isaac is 37 years old. We don't know how
much time elapsed between chapters 22 and 23, but, Isaac could have been 33 years old at the
time he was offered for sacrifice. To fill the type of Christ, who was 32 or 33, when He was
sacrificed; it would be fitting for Isaac to be about that age.
Hebron / Died in Fellowship / Stuck it Out
Verse 2 - So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron): Hebron means fellowship; Sarah died in
fellowship. She was in fellowship with her husband and in fellowship with the Lord. They had
their challenges as we have studied, they had personal failings, they lived the split family, they
had problems with their kids, but they stuck it out, they stayed by each others side.
Peter Says to Study Her / Nothing More Beautiful / Madison Avenue
Peter says for us to study this woman, for she is the picture of the woman men are to marry, and
woman are to be (1 Peter 3:6). She was in fellowship with her husband and the Lord. Nothing is
more beautiful about a woman, than a woman in fellowship with the Lord. A woman who is in
fellowship with the Lord radiates Jesus Christ, her beauty cannot be denied. How sad it is for the
woman today who are consumed with Madison Avenues description of beauty, it is a fleeting and
fading beauty that eventually will leave them depressed. The beauty of a woman in fellowship
with the Lord, is a beauty that is a living hope.
(1 Peter 1:3 NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has
begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
(1 Peter 1:4 NKJV) to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
First Mention of Weeping / No Tears Garden - Flood
Verse 2 - and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her: This is the first mention of
weeping in the Bible. The Holy Spirit reserves it for this moment. We read of no tears falling in
the garden when Adam and Eve sinned, nor when the flood came, but here when a husband
loses his wife.
Jesus Wept
It is ok to weep, it is ok to mourn, it is ok to cry, Jesus did.:
(John 11:35 NKJV) Jesus wept.
God Stores Them
God stores our tears in a bottle:
(Psalms 56:8 NKJV) You number my wanderings; Put my tears into Your bottle; Are they not in Your book?
Our Prayers Too
And our prayers:
(Revelation 5:8 NKJV) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down
before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
No Tear Unnoticed / Tear Bottles in Israel / Father Catches them All / Shaped Like Crosses
Not one tear you drop ever falls unnoticed. God stores them in a bottle, he shares them with you.
Your tears are precious to God. Still in Israel today you can buy tear bottles. They catch your
tears and you are to give them to the person you love the most. God has your tear bottle.
Remember that next tear that falls from your eyes, you cry not alone, your heavenly Father is
catching every tear, and they are precious to Him. I have heard, but can't confirm, that if you
were to put your tears under a microscope that the saline crystals of your tears are shaped like a
cross.
Abe Weeps in Hebron / the Unexpectant / Finances – Career / No Regrets / Slow Down
Abraham weeps, but he weeps in Hebron, in fellowship. We think our spouses or children or
friends will always be there, but life can end unexpectantly. When the tears flow on that day, let
them not be of regrets, wishing we would have had more times of fellowship, of being together.
Precious people don't let your life be so much about your finances, your career, your stuff. Don't
spend so much time preparing for retirement that you don't live until then. We should prepare, I'm
not saying that we shouldn't, but let it not rob us of the fellowship of one another. How about you
today, take this passage and allow it to slow you down, and ask yourself, if the tears would flow
today, would they be tears in Hebron, in fellowship, or tears of regret, tears of things we never
had time for, never made time for.
Life Becomes Clearer / Part of God’s Plan - Transfers
Verse 4 - "I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Abraham is saying this world isn't my home.
He says this right after Sarah's death. When death happens life becomes so much more clearer.
We see we are just passing through. It is part of God's plan for us, death gives us that longing for
heaven.
(Matthew 6:21 NKJV) "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Where Treasures Are – Heart Follows
When we see our loved ones (our Treasures) go on to be with the Lord, our heart longs for
heaven, the things of this world lose their flavor to us. We long to see our loved ones, we long to
see our Lord, we long to be in that place that death cannot disturb.
Abraham’s Promised Land / Euphrates to Nile
Verse 4 - Give me property for a burial place among you: Here Abraham is asking for property
that God gave him back in Genesis 12. Abraham was promised the land from the Euphrates
River to the Nile River.
(Hebrews 11:9 NKJV) By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and
Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
(Hebrews 11:10 NKJV) for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Grave Only Property
When Abraham dies, even though all this land has been promised to him by God, the only land
that he actually owns, is Sarah's grave.
No Monument / Not Frozen in Time / Continues His Journey
Verse 4 -that I may bury my dead out of my sight." - Abraham says I will bury the dead out of my
sight, he doesn't build a monument. Abraham is continuing on in his journey. He is not frozen in
time, but continually moving towards that day, of seeing that city whose builder and maker is God.
Abraham is going for the finish line.
(Philippians 3:13 NKJV) Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
(Philippians 3:14 NKJV) I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Live – Don’t Feel Guilty
Abraham says I am a sojourner, I will miss her, but I will not allow myself to stay in a perpetual
state of depression. People, you do not have to feel guilty for living. I know there are people who
have lost loved ones, and they feel guilt for laughing again, for going on a living again, they feel
that they hurt the loved one lost by moving on in life. They feel to do so is to forget them, and
they feel guilty for doing that. Abraham continues to live, and so can you. I really don't want to
talk about remarriage, that is up to each person individually; but I am talking about getting out of
the house, and back into life, pressing towards the high calling of God. It is what your loved one
in Christ would want for you, finish strong, bring as many with you as you can, and strengthen as
many as you can.
Mighty Prince
Verse 6 -Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us: You are a mighty prince, Abraham
pitched tents and built altars, and people saw it. They saw it in his life, and they saw it in the
death of his wife. Abraham lived for eternity. Let his example speak to us, for we are
ambassadors of the King of Heaven, and people are watching.
Sarah's Grave - Genesis 23: 7-9
(Genesis 23:7 NKJV) Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the
land, the sons of Heth.
(Genesis 23:8 NKJV) And he spoke with them, saying, "If it is your wish that I bury my
dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me,
(Genesis 23:9 NKJV) "that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is
at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place
among you."
Machpelah / Double Doors
Verse 9 – Machpelah: means "double doors". There is a way in and a way out. How poetic of
this picture of death. Sarah is passing through one door and out the other. The grave won't hold
her, and she knew because she knew the promised Seed (the Messiah) would come through her,
and He would bless the nations.
Weep – With Hope / 1 Thess 4 – John 11
We weep, but not as those who have no hope. One of the hardest things to do in the ministry is
the funeral of someone who had no relationship with Jesus Christ. But, one of the most blessed,
is to be able to proclaim to those who are weeping, we have hope.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13 NKJV) But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep,
lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.
(1 Thessalonians 4:14 NKJV) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those
who sleep in Jesus.
(John 11:25 NKJV) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he
shall live.
(John 11:26 NKJV) "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"
Ephron's Gift - Genesis 23:10-20
(Genesis 23:10 NKJV) Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite
answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his
city, saying,
(Genesis 23:11 NKJV) "No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I
give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!"
(Genesis 23:12 NKJV) Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land;
(Genesis 23:13 NKJV) and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land,
saying, "If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from
me and I will bury my dead there."
(Genesis 23:14 NKJV) And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him,
(Genesis 23:15 NKJV) "My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of
silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead."
(Genesis 23:16 NKJV) And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the
silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred
shekels of silver, currency of the merchants.
(Genesis 23:17 NKJV) So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before
Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which
were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded
(Genesis 23:18 NKJV) to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth,
before all who went in at the gate of his city.
(Genesis 23:19 NKJV) And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the
field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan.
(Genesis 23:20 NKJV) So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by
the sons of Heth as property for a burial place.
Culturally Correct
Verse 11 - I give it to you. Bury your dead!: This was the correct thing to do, culturally speaking
Double Price / Start the Haggle / Waiting for Counter Offer
Verse 15 - "My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that
between you and me? So bury your dead: It was probably a highly inflated price and he was
expecting Abraham to haggle for the land. Usually they would ask double what something was
worth. If you go to Israel today they still go through this process of haggling and so, you should
never pay the first price asked; for, they will take about fifty percent of the asking price. It's like a
game to them to haggle for the price. Ephron was probably waiting for Abraham to make a
counter offer.
Aberaham Doesn’t Take for Free nor Haggle / Ephron the World – Way World Does / Pays
the Price
Abraham won't take it from him. Ephron represents the world, and the way the world does things.
He says I give it to you (3 times in verse 11), even though it cost 400 shekels, I give it to you.
Abraham would not take it, and he would not enter into the haggling over the price, he just pays
for it. Abraham would not handle it the way the world handles things.
God’s Peace
Jesus said:
(John 14:27 NKJV) "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your
heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Peace of World has Strings / No Power
You can take the peace that the world wants to offer you, but it has strings attached, it always
does. There is only one source of peace in the world, and that can only be found in Jesus Christ.
The world will say you go to counseling, get some medication, but it always has strings attached
to it. The peace the world has to offer is only temporary, a bandaid, for it is not backed by the
power of God, nor His blood. Jesus said, My Peace I give you.
Peace so Rich Can’t Afford / Can’t Explain / He is the Prince of Peace
He gives us a peace that passeth all understanding. His peace is so rich that we could never
afford, nor can we explain, but it peace. For He is the Prince of Peace:
(Philippians 4:6 NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God;
(Philippians 4:7 NKJV) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.
(Isaiah 9:6 NKJV) For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And
His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Don’t Buy Ephron’s Trip / Even Most Well Meaning
Don't buy the Ephron trip, even form the most-welling person. In your hardest time, in all your
trials, there is one thing that Jesus always promises in the midst of trials - Himself.
Conclusion / Pitched Tents / Walked Together Since Ur / Fellowshipped at Altar / Saw God
Abraham pitched tents and built altars. Since God had called him out of Ur of the Chaldeans,
Sarah was by his side all the way. They took the venture in faith together, they had their highs
and lows. As Abraham would build altars, no doubt he and Sarah would go to that altar together,
they would take the Lamb (Gen 22:7) and they would fellowship together with the Lord, the Lord
they had come to know over years of walking with Him. As they would grow closer to Him, they
would see Him as:
• El Elyon (“God Most High”—14:19, 22)
• El Shaddai (“God Almighty, the All-Sufficient One”—17:1)
• El Olam (“the Everlasting God.” 21:33)
• JehovahJireh - (the Lord Will Provide Gen 22:14)
Now Home to Empty Tent – Looking Forward / Cherish Your Marriage / No Regrets when
Weeping
And now Abraham goes home to an empty tent, his treasure has transferred, and Abraham is
looking forward to that Promised Seed, that Seed that would become the Lamb. Precious people,
cherish your marriage, today. Don’t spend so much investing in your future that you don’t invest
in each other. When it comes time for weeping, let the tears not be of regret, but let them be in
Hebron, in fellowship.
Communion / Looking Forward / Looking Back / Living Today
Take time right now to go to the altar, to have communion with the Father. To take the elements
of communion and to look forward of seeing Him, to look back and see Him - High and Lifted up
to draw us to Himself. And, to look at Him right now, and thank Him for the life He has given us
today to live, and remembering the power available to us today to have that marriage that is
based in Hebron.
Genesis Chapter 24
Here Comes the Bride
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Types and Shadows
Through the Scriptures there is a study called Types and Shadows. We see in the Old
Testament, types which would be fulfilled in the New Testament. When you begin to study, in the
Old Testament, about the tabernacle, different sacrifices, and the various feast days; you will find
that they were all types of things to come in the New Testament. The Passover Feast was the
foreshadowing of the death of Jesus Christ and so it was significant that He died on the day of the
Passover. The Feast of Pentecost foreshadowed the birth of the "church," and so, the pouring out
of the Spirit and the first fruits of the harvest among the gentiles, were fulfilled on the Day of
Pentecost.
Abraham Type / Isaac / Gen 22 / Mount Moriah / God Provides Self
In the History of Abraham, we have a type of God the Father, and his son Isaac as a type of
Jesus Christ. So, in the story (Genesis 22) of Abraham, being called upon by God to take his
son, his only son Isaac, and offer him for a sacrifice on a mountain that God would show him; you
have a foreshadowing of the event that would take place some two thousand years later on the
same mount Moriah in Jerusalem. God gave His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for our sins. It
is significant in the story that once Isaac was offered, God provided the substitute. Abraham
prophesied, "...God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt-offering" and "In the mount of the Lord
it shall be seen."
No Isaac Until Gen 24 / The Bride / Bride of Christ
We do not read of Isaac again until we get to the 24th chapter of Genesis and we do not see
Isaac, in the picture again, until the "bride" for Isaac has been brought from a far land and he
rises up to meet the bride. Once Jesus died and was our sacrifice, He was received up into
heaven and does not appear on the scene again until the Holy Spirit, of which the servant of
Abraham is a type, brings his "bride" to Him and He rises up to meet His "bride." We, the church
are the "Bride of Christ" (Revelation 21-22), therefore Isaac is a type of Jesus, and Rebekah is a
type of the Church (us).
Gen 23 – Sarah Type of Israel / Jewish System Put Away / Gen 24 – Find Bride for the Son
As we look at chapters 22, 23, and 24 in sequence, we find that chapter 22 tells of the sacrifice of
Isaac; chapter 23 tells of the death of Sarah; and in chapter 24, we find the gathering of a bride
for the son by the servant. So Genesis 23, the account of Sarah’s death, Sarah, the wife of
Abraham would be a type of Israel, who was the wife of God. God called Israel to be His bride
and espoused her to Himself throughout the Scriptures. It is after the offering of Isaac, that Sarah
dies, is buried, put away if you will. Sarah represents Israel and the Jewish System, the Old
Covenant, the Law, and it is after the Son, Jesus was offered, that the Law as we have studied
was put away. We are no longer under the Law, but grace. The Law was a schoolmaster to
bring us to Christ (Galatians 3;24). Upon the death of Jesus Christ and the rejection of Him as
the Messiah by the Jews, Israel, the wife of God, is set aside. And so we read that Sarah died.
The Holy Spirit is dispatched to get a bride for the son, not from the land where they were
dwelling; but, to go back to the nation of Abraham and to his family to get the bride for his son. As
we begin chapter 23, we read of the death of Sarah or the setting aside of the nation of Israel in
order that God may get from among the gentiles, a "bride" for His Son.
Longest Chapter in Genesis
Genesis 24 is the longest chapter in the Book of Genesis. The Holy Spirit says to us to take a
good long, lingering look at how I feel about you.
(Genesis 24:1 NKJV) Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had
blessed Abraham in all things.
(Genesis 24:2 NKJV) So Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over
all that he had, "Please, put your hand under my thigh,
Thigh – Custom of Day
Verse 2 - Please, put your hand under my thigh: it was the custom of the cultural to sit on the
hand to tell the person what their assignment was. It was kinda like I am going to sit on your
hand so you can't go anywhere and listen to every last thing I have to say. Maybe we should
start this custom again with our kids.
Servant Probably Eliezer / God is my Help – Type of Holy Spirit / Goes Finds a Bride
This oldest servant was probably Eliezer. He was named for us in chapter 15, when God
promised that He would be to Abraham his exceeding great reward and bring to him great riches.
Abraham told God that all of his wealth was of no value because he had no heir but his servant
Eliezer, who was born in his house. The LORD gave him the promise that Eliezer would not be
his heir, but he would have a son.
The name Eliezer, in Hebrew, means "God my help" and is a type of the Holy Spirit who goes to
get a bride for his master's son. His job was to woo and to win the bride and bring her back that
the master's son might marry her.
Holy Spirit – Paracletes – Come Along Side to Help
As a type of the Holy Spirit, his name is significant. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Comforter,
which in Greek is "Paracletes" and it means literally, one who comes along side to help.
Name Not Mentioned / Testifies of Jesus
Eliezer is not named in chapter 24, and I believe that it is a deliberate omission by the Holy Spirit,
who inspired the text. Jesus said, speaking of the Holy Spirit:
(John 15:26 NKJV) "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who
proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
HS Doesn’t Magnify Self
The witness and work of the Holy Spirit, in the world today, is not to magnify himself, but to
magnify Jesus Christ. I wonder how the Holy Spirit feels when people seek to magnify him, when
his duty is to magnify Jesus. So important is his magnifying the name of Jesus that even though
he inspired the text, he leaves out the name in chapter 24 of the oldest servant.
(Genesis 24:3 NKJV) "and I will make you swear by the LORD, the God of heaven and the
God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the
Canaanites, among whom I dwell;
(Genesis 24:4 NKJV) "but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for
my son Isaac."
(Genesis 24:5 NKJV) And the servant said to him, "Perhaps the woman will not be willing
to follow me to this land. Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?"
No Easy Task or Journey / 500 Miles
The servant realized that what Abraham was asking of him was not an easy task. He has to go
back to Mesopotamia, which is about five hundred miles away. There he has to coax a young girl
to get on a camel and ride five hundred miles across a desert area to meet and to marry a man
she has never seen before. All she knows of him is what the servant has told her. She'll never
see her parents or her home again. The servant could see the difficulty of talking a pretty young
girl into such an adventure. He really didn't have much hope for the success of the trip and so he
asks if he fails in the venture, should he take Isaac back to the land of Mesopotamia.
(Genesis 24:6 NKJV) But Abraham said to him, "Beware that you do not take my son back
there.
(Genesis 24:7 NKJV) "The LORD God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and
from the land of my family, and who spoke to me and swore to me, saying, 'To your
descendants I give this land,' He will send His angel before you, and you shall take a wife
for my son from there.
(Genesis 24:8 NKJV) "And if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be
released from this oath; only do not take my son back there."
(Genesis 24:9 NKJV) So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master,
and swore to him concerning this matter.
Never left Promised Land
No mention of Isaac ever leaving the land of promise, nor did Jesus ever travel outside the area
of the Promised Land.
(Genesis 24:10 NKJV) Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and departed, for
all his master's goods were in his hand. And he arose and went to Mesopotamia, to the
city of Nahor.
Mesopotamia – Not Promised Land / After Israel Rejects Messiah the Gospel to Gentiles
Nahor was the brother of Abraham as we saw at the end of chapter 23. Now notice here,
Mesopotamia is not in the Promised Land, it is in what would be a Gentile region. After Israel
rejected Jesus, the Gospel went forth to the Gentiles. It is after the Church is raptured that God
will deal specifically with Israel again.
(Genesis 24:11 NKJV) And he made his camels kneel down outside the city by a well of
water at evening time, the time when women go out to draw water.
(Genesis 24:12 NKJV) Then he said, "O LORD God of my master Abraham, please give me
success this day, and show kindness to my master Abraham.
(Genesis 24:13 NKJV) "Behold, here I stand by the well of water, and the daughters of the
men of the city are coming out to draw water.
(Genesis 24:14 NKJV) "Now let it be that the young woman to whom I say, 'Please let
down your pitcher that I may drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I will also give your camels a
drink'; let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. And by this I will
know that You have shown kindness to my master."
Sets Up Fleece / Church Chosen Before Foundations of World
Verse 24 - let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac: The servant sets up a
condition, a sort of fleece, that the girl he asks for a drink will also give his camels water. The
servant knows God has already chosen a bride for Isaac. The scripture speaks, in the New
Testament, concerning the church of Jesus Christ; that, we have been chosen in Christ before
the foundations of the world. The servant realized that the bride for Isaac was already appointed
by God. God had already appointed Rebekah to be the bride. Even as God has already chosen
the "bride" for Christ. Those who have received Jesus as Lord and Savior are a chosen
generation. Chosen before the foundations of the world that we should bring forth glory and
praise unto God as the bride of His Son, Jesus Christ.
(Genesis 24:15 NKJV) And it happened, before he had finished speaking, that behold,
Rebekah, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother,
came out with her pitcher on her shoulder.
(Genesis 24:16 NKJV) Now the young woman was very beautiful to behold, a virgin; no
man had known her. And she went down to the well, filled her pitcher, and came up.
The Beauty of Bride / Pslam 45
The scripture does not talk about many damsels as being fair to look at; but in Psalms 45, a
prophetic psalm, concerning the "bride" of Christ, it says, "So shall the king greatly desire thy
beauty..." The LORD looks upon you and He sees you as very beautiful. His "bride." Sometimes
we don't feel very beautiful and our attitudes are ugly, but it's neat to know that the LORD sees us
as being beautiful:
(Psalms 45:11 NKJV) So the King will greatly desire your beauty; Because He is your Lord, worship Him.
Fair – Light Skinned / White as Snow / Ish 1:18
Rebekah was fair, that means she was very light skinned. In those times a dark tan was not
considered beautiful, for it meant you were a slave working in the fields. Rebekah was light
skinned. That is the way the Lord sees us, white as snow:
(Isaiah 1:18 NKJV) "Come now, and let us reason together," Says the LORD, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They
shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.
Lens of Love
God looks at us through His "Lens of Love", that is through His Son. He sees us perfect, pure,
clean, fresh, spotless, and without blemish.
Singles – At the Well
Single men, single woman, you will do well to find your spouse at the well. In the Scriptures we
see that Isaac's wife was found at the well, Jacob found his wife at the well, and Moses found his
wife at the well:
(Isaiah 12:2 NKJV) Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and
song; He also has become my salvation.'"
(Isaiah 12:3 NKJV) Therefore with joy you will draw water From the wells of salvation.
Don’t Settle
Don't settle for, well at least he/she are saved, or they make Sunday often. Look for them at the
place of refreshing; the midweek study, the mission trip, serving at the soup kitchen, involved in
ministries. You will find the best brides at the well.
(Genesis 24:17 NKJV) And the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please let me drink a
little water from your pitcher."
(Genesis 24:18 NKJV) So she said, "Drink, my lord." Then she quickly let her pitcher down
to her hand, and gave him a drink.
(Genesis 24:19 NKJV) And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw
water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking."
(Genesis 24:20 NKJV) Then she quickly emptied her pitcher into the trough, ran back to
the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels.
(Genesis 24:21 NKJV) And the man, wondering at her, remained silent so as to know
whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
(Genesis 24:22 NKJV) So it was, when the camels had finished drinking, that the man took
a golden nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two bracelets for her wrists weighing ten
shekels of gold,
(Genesis 24:23 NKJV) and said, "Whose daughter are you? Tell me, please, is there room
in your father's house for us to lodge?"
(Genesis 24:24 NKJV) So she said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel, Milcah's son,
whom she bore to Nahor."
(Genesis 24:25 NKJV) Moreover she said to him, "We have both straw and feed enough,
and room to lodge."
(Genesis 24:26 NKJV) Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the LORD.
2 Conditions – Country – Family / Music to Ears / Worship Time
Remember! There were two conditions. Abraham said, "...go unto my country, and to my kindred,
and take a wife unto my son Isaac." Now here is this beautiful girl, graciously giving water to him
and all the camels and can you imagine his pleasure at her reply? The name Nahor is music to
the servant's ear. Abraham's brother, Nahor, and this beautiful young girl is his granddaughter.
Wow! The man had prayed that the LORD would make his journey prosperous. The task, that he
had thought so difficult, was beginning to look as though it might work out. It was all too much for
him to take in and being excited, he bowed and worshipped God.
(Genesis 24:27 NKJV) And he said, "Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham,
who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the
way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren."
Being on the Way / Can’t sit Around / Step Out – Start Walking
Verse 27 - As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren:
Notice that being on the way, the LORD led him. One of the most important steps in being led of
the LORD is to get moving. It's hard to guide a stationery object. If you're just sitting around, it's
hard to get the leading of the LORD. God leads us as we're moving. We have to step out in faith
and as we step out in faith, then the LORD is able to lead us. If you're sitting waiting for the
LORD to show you his leading, you will probably just sit the rest of your life. You'll probably never
get any direction. Stand up! Start walking! The LORD will start leading you as you're going. To be
led of the LORD, we must step out in faith.
Walk in the Way
Walk in the way and you will end up where the Lord wants you. People often so they are
searching for the Lord's will in their life. God's will in your life is for you to walk in the way. The
Early Christians were called "The Way", for the walked the way of Jesus:
(John 14:6 NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
Me.
God's will is simpler than people make it out to be - keep yourself in the way, and He will lead you
to the places he wants for you. Your life just becomes a progressive revelation of His will for your
life.
(Genesis 24:28 NKJV) So the young woman ran and told her mother's household these
things.
(Genesis 24:29 NKJV) Now Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban, and Laban ran
out to the man by the well.
Later on, we encounter Laban again when Jacob flees from the wrath of Esau and goes to his
uncle Laban in Mesopotamia.
(Genesis 24:30 NKJV) So it came to pass, when he saw the nose ring, and the bracelets
on his sister's wrists, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, saying, "Thus
the man spoke to me," that he went to the man. And there he stood by the camels at the
well.
(Genesis 24:31 NKJV) And he said, "Come in, O blessed of the LORD! Why do you stand
outside? For I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels."
(Genesis 24:32 NKJV) Then the man came to the house. And he unloaded the camels, and
provided straw and feed for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men
who were with him.
(Genesis 24:33 NKJV) Food was set before him to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I
have told about my errand." And he said, "Speak on."
Here we see the customs of the day, the hospitality to strangers.
(Genesis 24:34 NKJV) So he said, "I am Abraham's servant.
(Genesis 24:35 NKJV) "The LORD has blessed my master greatly, and he has become
great; and He has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female servants,
and camels and donkeys.
(Genesis 24:36 NKJV) "And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she
was old; and to him he has given all that he has.
All Things Given / John 3:35
Verse 36 - and to him he has given all that he has: All things have been given to Isaac by his
father:
(John 3:35 NKJV) "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
Servant Wooing / HS Wooing Us / Glories of God’s Kingdom / Beauty of Christ
Seeing the picture of Eliezer as the Holy Spirit, he is now wooing the bride for the son as he
testifies of the glory of his master's kingdom. His master has a son and all that he possesses; he
has given to his son. We begin to hear the witness of the Holy Spirit with the glories of God's
Kingdom: the beauty, the glory, and the riches of the Kingdom of God and God has a Son, whom
He has appointed "heir" of all things. The Spirit is here to woo us to Jesus Christ to be the bride of
Christ that we may be joint heirs with him of the wealth of the Kingdom of God. So you see the
picture begin to come together here as the servant describes the wealth and glory of his master's
kingdom. I would imagine that he describes the son in glowing terms and Rebekah is listening,
I'm sure. She probably figures, at this point, there is something very interesting going on.
Recaps the Story
Now the servant recaps the calling and events leading up to this moment.
(Genesis 24:37 NKJV) "Now my master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife
for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell;
(Genesis 24:38 NKJV) 'but you shall go to my father's house and to my family, and take a
wife for my son.'
(Genesis 24:39 NKJV) "And I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.'
(Genesis 24:40 NKJV) "But he said to me, 'The LORD, before whom I walk, will send His
angel with you and prosper your way; and you shall take a wife for my son from my family
and from my father's house.
(Genesis 24:41 NKJV) 'You will be clear from this oath when you arrive among my family;
for if they will not give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.'
(Genesis 24:42 NKJV) "And this day I came to the well and said, 'O LORD God of my
master Abraham, if You will now prosper the way in which I go,
(Genesis 24:43 NKJV) 'behold, I stand by the well of water; and it shall come to pass that
when the virgin comes out to draw water, and I say to her, "Please give me a little water
from your pitcher to drink,"
(Genesis 24:44 NKJV) 'and she says to me, "Drink, and I will draw for your camels also,";
let her be the woman whom the LORD has appointed for my master's son.'
(Genesis 24:45 NKJV) "But before I had finished speaking in my heart, there was
Rebekah, coming out with her pitcher on her shoulder; and she went down to the well and
drew water. And I said to her, 'Please let me drink.'
Verse 45 - But before I had finished speaking in my heart: This is interesting; he was speaking in
his heart. We think we always have to articulate our prayers, but that's not so. God can hear the
prayer of your heart. He was just saying a prayer in his heart that God would point out the woman
who was to be Isaac's bride.
(Genesis 24:46 NKJV) "And she made haste and let her pitcher down from her shoulder,
and said, 'Drink, and I will give your camels a drink also.' So I drank, and she gave the
camels a drink also.
(Genesis 24:47 NKJV) "Then I asked her, and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' And she
said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bore to him.' So I put the nose
ring on her nose and the bracelets on her wrists.
(Genesis 24:48 NKJV) "And I bowed my head and worshiped the LORD, and blessed the
LORD God of my master Abraham, who had led me in the way of truth to take the daughter
of my master's brother for his son.
(Genesis 24:49 NKJV) "Now if you will deal kindly and truly with my master, tell me. And if
not, tell me, that I may turn to the right hand or to the left."
(Genesis 24:50 NKJV) Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing comes
from the LORD; we cannot speak to you either bad or good.
They said, obviously the thing is from the LORD. We cannot object to it. I love it when you see
those things that are so the Lord, you just go – that is so the Lord!
(Genesis 24:51 NKJV) "Here is Rebekah before you; take her and go, and let her be your
master's son's wife, as the LORD has spoken."
(Genesis 24:52 NKJV) And it came to pass, when Abraham's servant heard their words,
that he worshiped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
Abraham's faith in God has certainly influenced his household. The servant is following the
example of Abraham by worshipping God on these different occasions.
(Genesis 24:53 NKJV) Then the servant brought out jewelry of silver, jewelry of gold, and
clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious things to her brother and to
her mother.
Servant Gives Gifts / HS Gives Us Gifts / Our Inheritance / Sample of Wealth
Even as we, who are committed to Jesus Christ to be His "bride," responded to that wooing of the
Holy Spirit and upon consenting, we began to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We received
those gifts of God and the gift of the Spirit, himself, which becomes the "earnest" of our
inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession. The servant brings in this
magnificent jewelry and clothing and says, here's a sample of the wealth of my master as the gifts
of the Spirit are just a foretaste of the glory that awaits us when we arrive in the heavenly
kingdom. We have a down payment of the glory to come and with Peter we can say:
(1 Peter 1:8 NKJV) whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy
inexpressible and full of glory,
(1 Peter 1:9 NKJV) receiving the end of your faith; the salvation of your souls.
(Genesis 24:54 NKJV) And he and the men who were with him ate and drank and stayed
all night. Then they arose in the morning, and he said, "Send me away to my master."
(Genesis 24:55 NKJV) But her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman stay
with us a few days, at least ten; after that she may go."
(Genesis 24:56 NKJV) And he said to them, "Do not hinder me, since the LORD has
prospered my way; send me away so that I may go to my master."
Delay Her / type of World / Get Saved Later / YOU ARE DEAD Until You Live
Delay her going. They're a type of the world that is always seeking to cause you to delay your
commitment to Jesus Christ. Everybody wants to be saved someday. They all want to die the
death of the righteous. No one wants to die the death of a heathen or sinner. I want to be
righteous, but later. I want to live a little first. Oh, what a wrong statement that is. You're dead in
your trespasses and sins and what you are really saying is that you want to stay dead a little
longer. You don't know what living is until you live in Christ. Paul said,
(Philippians 1:21 NKJV) For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
(Colossians 3:4 NKJV) When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
(1 John 5:12 NKJV) He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
The World Says Chill Out / Once A Week / Lets do Brunch
The world, our family and friends tell us chill out, don't get so radical. Once a week is enough, or
Christmas and Easter should do it. What is up with this twice a week, mission trips, daily
devotions of study and prayer? Come on and hang out with us, lets do brunch; Wednesday is
movie night or stupid family sitcom night. The world always wants to delay, keep you from
growing and developing in the Lord. Why, they are afraid to lose you, they like their life as it is,
and it includes you being in it exactly as they want you to be. Whether that is loser like them, a
party buddy, or someone they can say at least I'm better off than he is. The world wants to delay
us because they don’t want to lose us.
(Genesis 24:57 NKJV) So they said, "We will call the young woman and ask her
personally."
(Genesis 24:58 NKJV) Then they called Rebekah and said to her, "Will you go with this
man?" And she said, "I will go."
The Spirit Asks You / Will You Go – Start this Journey
The Spirit asks you the big question. Will you commit your life to Jesus Christ? Will you begin the
journey towards Him. That journey that will, one day, lead us into His presence and the glory of
His kingdom. Will you consent? Will you go? It always comes to the personal application. They
asked Rebekah, personally, if she would go and she said, "I will go."
(Genesis 24:59 NKJV) So they sent away Rebekah their sister and her nurse, and
Abraham's servant and his men.
(Genesis 24:60 NKJV) And they blessed Rebekah and said to her: "Our sister, may you
become The mother of thousands of ten thousands; And may your descendants possess
The gates of those who hate them."
(Genesis 24:61 NKJV) Then Rebekah and her maids arose, and they rode on the camels
and followed the man. So the servant took Rebekah and departed.
Followed the man / Lead by the Spirit
Verse 61 - and followed the man: They followed the man (the Spirit), until they/she saw Isaac (the
type of Jesus) face-to-face. Let the Spirit of God lead you until that day.
Rebekah leaves Comforts / Gets Uncomfortable / Ride a Trial is to Move With It
Rebekah had a nurse and she had maids. That tells us the family was well-to-do and she could
have stayed there and lived in comfort; but, she gets on a camel (an awkward uncomfortable
beast) to ride some 500 miles that she might meet the man she is to marry and become with him
the heir of the kingdom. Riding a camel is a trial and the only way you can ride is to relax and
move with it.
Our Journey has Trials / 1 Peter 4
We begin our journey through life the same way. We have many trials. Peter says:
(1 Peter 4:12 NKJV) Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange
thing happened to you;
Endure / Look Forward
We are encouraged to endure hardness as a good soldier; but, always in trials, we are pointed
ahead to the rewards that lie ahead of us. We are pointed to Jesus, as our example, who for the
joy that was set before him endured the cross and says to us, "Take up your cross." Paul said
(Romans 8:18 NKJV) For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory
which shall be revealed in us.
Light Afflictions
In Corinthians, Paul says:
(2 Corinthians 4:17 NKJV) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and
eternal weight of glory,
Servant Strengthens Rebekah with Stories of Isaac
So the LORD points us ahead and I'm sure that as they were riding along and Rebekah began to
get weary that Eliezer rode along side and told her of Isaac and his gentle nature and the wealth
and glory of his master; so that Rebekah would be encouraged and strengthened. Even so the
Spirit watches over us carefully and when he sees us getting discouraged he comes and relates
the glories of the heavenly kingdom that await when we arrive.
Lord Stood Besides Paul
It is interesting that when Paul was going through the severest trial of his life that the LORD came
to him and ministered and encouraged him. The LORD told him that he would bear witness of
Him at Rome, just as he had in Jerusalem:
(Acts 23:11 NKJV) But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have
testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome."
Every Trial Brought Closer to Destination
Every trial that Rebekah was going through was bringing her closer to her destination. God uses
the trials and testings in our lives for the purpose of bringing us closer to that desired destination
when one day, we will no longer see through a dark glass but we will see Him face to face:
(1 Corinthians 13:12 NKJV) For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall
know just as I also am known.
She was In Love w/Whom She Had Not Seen /
So in Rebekah's heart was the anticipation of the meeting of this man she was to marry. She
hadn't seen him, but the things that the servant told her were glorious. Already she was in love
with Isaac from the descriptions that the servant had given her, even as we are already in love
with Jesus from the descriptions of the Holy Spirit, "...Whom having not seen, ye love." And so
you don't curse the trials, but you rejoice and count it all joy; because, these are the instruments
that are drawing us close to Jesus. God's purpose in every testing and every trial is to force us
closer to Jesus. God doesn't want me to become independent of Him and so He will send a trial
to force me closer to Him:
(1 Peter 1:8 NKJV) whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy
inexpressible and full of glory,
(1 Peter 1:9 NKJV) receiving the end of your faith; the salvation of your souls.
(Genesis 24:62 NKJV) Now Isaac came from the way of Beer Lahai Roi, for he dwelt in the
South.
(Genesis 24:63 NKJV) And Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening; and he
lifted his eyes and looked, and there, the camels were coming.
Isaac Praying / John 17
Isaac is out in the field meditating, praying. A picture of Christ:
(John 17:9 NKJV) "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours.
(John 17:10 NKJV) "And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them.
(John 17:24 NKJV) "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold
My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
We Watch / Jesus Watches for Us
We always say that we are watching for the Lord, but really the Lord is watching us, longing for
us, to be united with us. He waits for His bride. I remember waiting for my wedding day. Me and
Renee lived 40 miles from each other. I couldn't wait for my bride. I couldn't wait for the day
when I would come home to my bride every day, no distances between. To see here face-to-face
everyday. Jesus is watching you, and longing for you.
(Genesis 24:64 NKJV) Then Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac she
dismounted from her camel;
Lighted Off
Verse 24, I like the KJV translation: The word “lighted”, it literally means she fell off her camel.
(Genesis 24:64 KJV) And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.
10 Camels / Jumps Off When Sees Isaac / Gal 3
Here is another interesting point, how many camels were there? There were 10 (Verse 10). The
ten camels represent the Ten Commandments, she waters them, and then she rides them, but
when she sees Isaac she jumps off. The Law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ:
(Galatians 3:24 KJV) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
(Genesis 24:65 NKJV) for she had said to the servant, "Who is this man walking in the
field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took a veil and covered
herself.
Walking - Emotion
Walking! Come on Isaac, show a little emotion. He saw the ten camels and knew it was the
servant returning. There were many more people then had started out; so, he must of known it
was a successful journey, but still he walked.
We Get Impatient / James 5
I get impatient with Jesus. I wish that the LORD would come quickly. He seems to be just walking
and I get impatient for Him to come. I want to get on with it! I want to meet my LORD! I want to
get on with the kingdom! But, he walks:
(James 5:7 NKJV) Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious
fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
(James 5:8 NKJV) You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
So it seems as though the Lord is walking to meet us, when I wish He were running.
(Genesis 24:66 NKJV) And the servant told Isaac all the things that he had done.
(Genesis 24:67 NKJV) Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent; and he took
Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his
mother's death.
And Isaac loved Rebekah, even as Jesus loves you. Sarah has been dead for three years. It
indicates here that Isaac might have been mourning all that time and now is comforted by
Rebekah's love.
Genesis Chapter 25
The Death of Abraham
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Recap Abrahams Life / Ur / Land / Nations / Son / Intercession / Offering Isaac
Well, in this study we see the death of Abraham. We have followed him all the way from God
calling him out of his land, the Ur of the Chaldeans which is in the Babylon region, to a place that
God would show him, which we know as the Promised Land. Abraham starts his venture in Faith,
being led by God. God brings him up to a mount and shows him, all this land I give to you, and
God gives him a promise of a son - Isaac, God gives him the promise that all nations will be
blessed through him. We saw his failings in Egypt to his triumph in rescuing his nephew Lot. We
saw him in the role of intecessor before God, to an offering up of his son Isaac before the Lord.
Revealation of God / Pitched Tents – Built Altars / City of God
Abraham grew in his faith, as he grew so did his God, as every revelation of God would reveal
how awesome his God was. He saw God as:
• El Elyon (“God Most High”—14:19, 22)
• El Shaddai (“God Almighty, the All-Sufficient One”—17:1)
• El Olam (“the Everlasting God.” 21:33)
• JovahJireh - (the Lord Will Provide Gen 22:14)
Abraham's life was defined simply as a man who pitched tents, and built altars. A man who was
not looking for his place on earth, but a place whose builder and maker was God:
(Hebrews 11:8 NKJV) By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an
inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
(Hebrews 11:9 NKJV) By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and
Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;
(Hebrews 11:10 NKJV) for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
In a way this passage of Abraham's death kinda feels like we are losing family. This study of
Abraham's life has been one of richest studies I have had in my Christian walk.
(Genesis 25:1 NKJV) Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
(Genesis 25:2 NKJV) And she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and
Shuah.
(Genesis 25:3 NKJV) Jokshan begot Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were
Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim.
(Genesis 25:4 NKJV) And the sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abidah, and
Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.
Significance of Bride / Recap Gen 22
Abraham took another wife, Abraham died 20 years after the death of Sarah. Here is the
significance of the death of Sarah, and the marriage to Keturah, which happens late in Abraham's
life. In Biblical Shadows and Types, Abraham is a type of God the Father, Sarah is a type of the
Nation Israel, and Isaac is a type of Jesus Christ. So in chapter 22 we see Abraham offering up
Isaac at the altar on Mount Moriah. It was a picture of what would transpire 2000 years later as
God the Father would offer up His only Son Jesus Christ for the sins of the world, on that very
same spot (the Lord will provide Himself a Lamb, and He did, Jesus Christ).
Recap Gen 23 / God’s Wife / Turned to Gentiles
Then in chapter 23 we see the death of Sarah, the wife of Abraham. She is a picture of the
nation Israel. You see God the Father has a wife (just as Jesus has a Bride), and God the
Father's wife is the nation Israel:
(Isaiah 54:5 NKJV) For your Maker is your husband, The LORD of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy
One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.
(Isaiah 54:6 NKJV) For the LORD has called you Like a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit, Like a youthful wife when
you were refused," Says your God.
(Isaiah 54:7 NKJV) "For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies I will gather you.
(Jeremiah 3:1 NKJV) "They say, 'If a man divorces his wife, And she goes from him And becomes another man's, May he
return to her again?' Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; Yet return
to Me," says the LORD.
(Jeremiah 3:20 NKJV) Surely, as a wife treacherously departs from her husband, So have you dealt treacherously with
Me, O house of Israel," says the LORD.
God chose Israel to be His light unto the world, but they rejected Him, and God started His work
among the Gentiles. Now salvation is available to Jewish people individually, but as a nation
whole, salvation as we see today is being received by the non-Jew, the Gentiles. Also, after the
Son was offered up we know that the old Jewish religious system was put away. The Old
Covenant, the Law, the temple sacrificial system, all put away; and it is by grace that a person is
saved, not of works:
(Ephesians 2:8 NKJV) For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
(Ephesians 2:9 NKJV) not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Recap Gen 24 / Wooing of the Bride / Rapture / Marriage Supper
So, Genesis 24, we saw the un-named servant wooing Rebekah to become Issac's bride, and the
chapter ended with the marriage being consummated, and the two becoming one. Gensesis 24
is a beautiful picture of the Holy Spirit bringing the Son a Bride (that's you and me - the Church);
as the Holy Spirit wooes us by describing the beauty of our Lord Jesus. Then it is after the long
journey, that we see Him face to face, and we will sit at banquet table together with Him, at the
Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Gen 25 / Keturah / Not Done with Israel / God’s Wife is Israel / 400 Million to 6 Million
But the story isn't done yet, for here in chapter 25, we see Abraham taking a bride, Keturah.
What is this a picture of, what does thins mean, it means that God the Father will not remain a
widow. You see God is not done with the nation Israel:
(Romans 11:25 NKJV) For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise
in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in.
(Romans 11:26 NKJV) And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will
turn away ungodliness from Jacob;
(Romans 11:27 NKJV) For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins."
After the rapture of the Church, God will again will deal with Isreal corporately as a nation, and in
those last days there will be a great revival as the Scriptures say all of Israel will know that He is
the Lord:
(Ezekiel 39:21 NKJV) "I will set My glory among the nations; all the nations shall see My judgment which I have executed,
and My hand which I have laid on them.
(Ezekiel 39:22 NKJV) "So the house of Israel shall know that I am the LORD their God from that day forward.
After years of rejection and rebellion, the nation Israel will be joined again to the Father. Keturah
means "incense", and the people of Israel calling upon the name of the Lord will be a sweet
sweet incense before Him at the throne room of God.
So important to see these things, for they are keys that help us understand and unlock the
prophecies of the Bible. Key points for us now are this, Israel will not be wiped out by any
extremist group, because God is not done with them, and God the Father will not be a widow.
But before that happens, we the church must be raptured. How much more can Israel endure?
Not much I would say, 6 million Jews against 400 million Arabs/Muslims that hate them, seeking
nuclear arms to destroy them, the rapture has to be soon.
(Genesis 25:5 NKJV) And Abraham gave all that he had to Isaac.
Just as Abraham gave Isaac all that he had, so does God the Father give all things to the Son:
(John 3:35 NKJV) "The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
(John 17:6 NKJV) "I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were
Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word.
(John 17:7 NKJV) "Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.
And the Son gives them to us, that is grace. God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
(Genesis 25:6 NKJV) But Abraham gave gifts to the sons of the concubines which
Abraham had; and while he was still living he sent them eastward, away from Isaac his
son, to the country of the east.
Saudia Arabia / Oil & Rocks
Sheba and Dedan are sent east, which turns out they inhabit the area of Saudia Arabia. They got
the oil, Isaac got the rocks.
Sent Away / Only Promised Child
But notice, Abraham sends them away, and it is just him and Isaac. Only the promised child gets
the inheritance, yeas others get gifts, but only the promised child gets the inheritance:
(Ephesians 1:10 NKJV) that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in
Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth; in Him.
(Ephesians 1:11 NKJV) In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him
who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
(Colossians 1:12 NKJV) giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in
the light.
(Hebrews 9:15 NKJV) And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption
of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal
inheritance.
Narrow is the Way / No Budda / Matter of Iniquity – not Morality / He Chose the Nails
Not all roads lead to heaven, the way is narrow, Jesus is the only way:
(Acts 4:12 NKJV) "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by
which we must be saved."
(Matthew 7:13 NKJV) "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and
there are many who go in by it.
(Matthew 7:14 NKJV) "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find
it.
(John 14:6 NKJV) Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
Me.
Budda, Krishna, Allah, Joseph Smith, Jehovah Witnesses, they do not lead to the Father, and
they will be sent away. No matter how well meaning some of them may be, how nice they are, or
how good a person they may be, it won't matter. It won't matter because it is not a matter of
morality, but iniquity, and it is man's sin that separates him from a Holy and Pure God.
Only one, one and only, laid His life down for our sin, the One who chose the nails; Jesus Christ,
God who became a man, and the man became the Lamb - the Lamb of God who takes away the
sins of the world.
(Genesis 25:7 NKJV) This is the sum of the years of Abraham's life which he lived: one
hundred and seventy-five years.
KJV of these verses:
(Genesis 25:7 KJV) And these are the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, an hundred threescore and
fifteen years.
The Days / Life of Individual Days
The "days" - 175 years times 360 (360 is length of years in OT) equals 63,000 days. The days of
Abraham's life, for life is made up of days, individual specific days, Abraham had 63,000
individual days of his life.
We read that Abraham walked with the Lord, was a friend of the Lord.
(Genesis 17:1 NKJV) When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am
Almighty God; walk before Me and be blameless.
(James 2:23 NKJV) And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for
righteousness." And he was called the friend of God.
The Christian Walk / Daily / Step by Step, Not Leaps
The Christian walk is just that, it is walking daily, step by step. The Christian walk is not leaps
and bounds.
Christian Tomorrow / Christian thought – Tomorrow / No Time ot Devote
Christian, your Christian tomorrow will be dependent on your Christian today. So often a
Christian thinks someday I am going to be on-fire, spiritually mature, a man/woman of God; but
right now I do not have the time to devote myself to becoming that. Next week, next month I am
going to pour myself into it, but we know next week, next month comes, but we don't.
Maturity Not Age / Wisdom & Knowledge
What you will be tomorrow as a Christian is based on what you do today. Age doesn't bring
maturity, but wisdaom and knowledge does. Abraham had lots of days, and as we read he
walked with God, was a friend of God.
(Genesis 25:8 NKJV) Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old
man and full of years, and was gathered to his people.
Died Full
That word "years" is not there in the original. The passage simply says:
Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full
Die Full by Living Days – not Years / Walking with Him
Abraham died full. How do you die full, by living "days", not years. Living everyday individually,
set apart for the Lord. By walking everyday with Him:
(Psalms 16:11 NKJV) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are
pleasures forevermore.
Abraham’s Life Defined / The God he Worshipped – Wait to See / Lord the Lamb
Abraham, a life defined by pitching tents, and building altars. The God he worshipped, he will
see, but not at his last breath, for he and the rest of the people he was gathered to, will have to
wait until the fulfillment of Genesis 22, God providing Himself a Lamb. For no man can come into
the presence of the Holy God until they have been washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ.
Abraham Comforts
Abraham would comfort the people with his words, the story of Genesis 22, he would tell them to
take heart, the Lamb of God is coming, and He will break open this grave, and we will see him
face to face:
(Luke 16:22 NKJV) "So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom. The rich man
also died and was buried.
We Are Comfort / And We Comfort
And so too are we comforted with that same message. We look back at the cross, just like they
looked back at Genesis 22, the Lord will provide Himself a Lamb, who will take away our sins:
(1 Corinthians 11:23 NKJV) For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the
same night in which He was betrayed took bread;
(1 Corinthians 11:24 NKJV) and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is
broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me."
(1 Corinthians 11:25 NKJV) In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant
in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
Genesis 25
The Birth of Jacob / Esau Sells His Birthright
Genesis more than history book / It is His-story
It all begins here in Genesis. In chapter 3 we will see the first mention of the Messiah who would
be bruised for our iniquities (sin), chapter 5 the gospel laid out before us in the meaning of each
name. We will see genealogy after genealogy, but they will all drop off until we come to just one
genealogy, the genealogy leading up to the Messiah. This Old Testament, starting with Genesis,
is more than the history of the children of Israel and Jewish Nation, this is His-story.
Theme of this Book – for this is why He had to come:
From Paradise to Prison – back to Paradise:
(Genesis 3:15 NKJV) And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed
and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
(Genesis 3:15 noted) And I (God) will put enmity (hostility/hatred) Between you (satan) and the
woman (mankind), And between your seed (demons) and her Seed (Jesus); He (Jesus) shall
bruise your (satan) head, And you (satan) shall bruise His (Jesus) heel."
Outline:
Part 1 – The History of Major World Events (chapters 1-11) (spanning 2000+ years)
• The Creation of the World and Man (1-2)
• The Fall of Man (3-5)
• The Flood of the World (6-9)
• The Tower of Babel: the Dispersion of Man (10-11)
Part 2 – The History of the Major Families (chapters 12-50) (spanning approximately 350 years)
• The Life of Abraham (11-25)
• The Life of Isaac (25-26)
• The Life of Jacob (27-36)
• The Life of Joseph (36-50)
Left Abraham Full / Shift to his Sons
We left Abraham last study, dying full, for he lived days and not years. He lived individual days,
specific days, walking with the Lord, and fellowshipping with the Lord, being a friend of the Lord.
Now the story shifts from Abraham to his sons:
(Genesis 25:9 NKJV) And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of
Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite,
(Genesis 25:10 NKJV) the field which Abraham purchased from the sons of Heth. There
Abraham was buried, and Sarah his wife.
Brought Together at Death / Reconcilation through Death / Someone has to Die
Ishmael and Isaac are brought together again through the death of their father. These two who
were estranged from each other, at odds with one another, are brought together at death. How
many times I see that in my life, people who haven't spoken in years, been at odds with each
other over the years, yet they come to a funeral and speak and healing happens. Reconciliation
is always accomplished one-way, and one-way only, through death. Whether it is reconciliation
between a husband and wife, brother and sister, boss and employee, the only way reconciliation
can happen is that someone dies. Someone has to let go, do what Jesus said and die to self.
Christian it is better to reconcile than be right. Chose your battles wisely, sometimes - most
times, it is better just to let it go. I am not saying to compromise, but sometimes it is better to just
let it go, die to yourself, so that there can be reconciliation.
(Genesis 25:11 NKJV) And it came to pass, after the death of Abraham, that God blessed
his son Isaac. And Isaac dwelt at Beer Lahai Roi.
God Buries His Workman/ 2 Things
God buries His workman, but the work goes on. Abraham dies and is buried. That chapter
closes and then immediately we move on, and see God working through Isaac, and then Jacob.
God buries His workman, but His work goes on. 2 things here:
Ministry Pushed Down / Less Hold – More Get / Watch it Here
One, ministry must be pushed down. There is a great danger in the Church when Pastors or
ministers become territorial. It is a great danger when people want to be the sole-source; where
they want people to come tho them only with their needs and questions. Ministry must be pushed
down in the church. You will find that the less you hold on to in your ministry, the more ministry
God adds to you. Push it down, try to work yourself out of a job and watch what God does. You
will never be out of work for we live in a world that is lost and dying. I love watching what is going
on here, as people are assuming ministries, stepping into ministry, starting new ministries. It is
exciting to watch the Lord's work expand.
Son Carries Father’s Work / Bury the Workman
Secondly, we see here the son carrying on the work of the father. Parents invest, sacrifice,
defend your child's spiritual growth and development, so that when you breath your last, God will
bury the workman, but the work will go on.
(Genesis 25:12 NKJV) Now this is the genealogy of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar
the Egyptian, Sarah's maidservant, bore to Abraham.
(Genesis 25:13 NKJV) And these were the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names,
according to their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebajoth; then Kedar, Adbeel,
Mibsam,
(Genesis 25:14 NKJV) Mishma, Dumah, Massa,
(Genesis 25:15 NKJV) Hadar, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
(Genesis 25:16 NKJV) These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by
their towns and their settlements, twelve princes according to their nations.
(Genesis 25:17 NKJV) These were the years of the life of Ishmael: one hundred and thirty-
seven years; and he breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people.
(Genesis 25:18 NKJV) (They dwelt from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt as
you go toward Assyria.) He died in the presence of all his brethren.
Ish Type of Flesh / Dies – not Days / Dies – Not Full / Flesh just Dies
Ishmael is a type of the flesh in the Scriptures. Notice verse 17, Ishmael he dies, his years were
137. He did not have days like Abraham did, he had years and died. Did he die full like Abraham
did? No he just died. Why? Because he is a man that lived after the flesh, for the flesh, he is a
picture of the flesh, and he just dies and leaves a legacy of these 12 sons. The flesh just dies,
period, only the Spirit lives on.
Ish comes Islam / Mecca / Stone of spirit / Allah / Will Unify & Rule
From Ishmael comes Islam, we live in a world that feels the effects of this man of the flesh. Islam
is an idolatrous and pagan religion. Mecca is the spiritual center of Islam, and at that site is a
black stone that is on a silver holder, and they worship that stone. They say that stone came
from heaven (we would call it a meteorite - but anyways). They say form that stone came spirits,
some 300 spirits all different gods. One of those gods was named Allah, the moon god.
Abraham comes in the temple at Mecca, his desire was to unite all the 12 tribes of Ishmael, and
he be their leader, and he says Allah is the only God. He says if we will unify ourselves under
him, then we will rule the world.
Towns – Settlements – Palaces – Possesions / Ish Fell
Verse 16 - These were the sons of Ishmael and these were their names, by their towns and their
settlements, twelve princes according to their nations. See they had towns and settlements,
princes have palaces, they had nations which history tells us are and were powerful. Ishmael's
offspring's; people, places, power, possessions, and all the good things of the earth, but God
ends him here for in light of eternity he is not worth another thought, it is the end of the story of
Ishmael, he dies and goes off the scene. The word in verse 18 for died is not the same one used
for Abraham dying, this one means he fell. That is the truth of the things of the world, they will
always fall away. Princes, power, palaces, and possessions they will all fall away and we will be
standing before God naked:
(Matthew 16:26 NKJV) "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a
man give in exchange for his soul?
(1 Corinthians 3:11 NKJV) For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(1 Corinthians 3:12 NKJV) Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,
(1 Corinthians 3:13 NKJV) each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by
fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is.
(1 Corinthians 3:14 NKJV) If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.
(Genesis 25:19 NKJV) This is the genealogy of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham begot
Isaac.
(Genesis 25:20 NKJV) Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah as wife, the
daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan Aram, the sister of Laban the Syrian.
Reb Barren / Saved but Barren / What Does Isaac Do / Wife a Reflection
Isaac's wife was barren. Rebekah remember, she is a type of the Church, she is the bride of
Christ for Isaac is a picture of Jesus Christ. Rebekah was taken out of a foreign land, wooed by
the Holy Spirit, and then she says I will marry Him, and she gets saved if you would. We can get
saved, called out of the foreign land, say I do to Jesus Christ, but we still have growing to do.
Isaac's wife was barren, men how about your wife, is she barren? I don't necessarily mean
reproduction, but is she saved but maybe barren in some area, dry? Well what does Isaac do, he
doesn't get angry at her, he doesn't chastise her for being barren, rather he entreats the Lord (he
prays) for her. Isaac is a type of Jesus Christ, who lives to intercede for us, his bride. But guys,
we get to pray for our wives, we are to pray for our wives. If your wife is barren, or if you don't
like her attitude, her behaviour, then you need to consider this:
(1 Corinthians 11:7 NKJV) For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but
woman is the glory of man.
If your wife is lacking in spiritual things, you may want to look at yourself.
(Genesis 25:21 NKJV) Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was
barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived.
Prayer Changes Things – Course of Nature / Timecard
He prays for her barrenness, and she conceives. The best thing we can do for someone who is
barren is to pray. But husband if there was a timecard recording the time you spent praying for
your wife, what would it say? Know this, I can't explain it, I just believe it by faith, prayer has the
power to change the course of nature, nations, and individuals. Believe that and start applying to
the barren situations in your marriage, you family, nation, and all other areas that need touched
by God.
(Genesis 25:22 NKJV) But the children struggled together within her; and she said, "If all
is well, why am I like this?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.
Notice Struggle / Who She Inquires
Notice there is a struggle in her life, and look where she seeks counsel, of whom she inquires. It
isn't Tony Robbins, or the 150/hr guy, Operah, or Dr.Phil, she inquires of the Lord. Christians,
our first place of inquiry needs to be the Lord:
(Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV) 'Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'
People have a tendency to run everywhere first, and then as a last resort, inquire of the Lord. Is
there something wrong, is there something stirring inside you, something troubling you, is there a
struggle with in you? Then seek the Lord, and He will direct you from there.
(Genesis 25:23 NKJV) And the LORD said to her: "Two nations are in your womb, Two
peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger."
2 Nations in Us
Two nations are warring in us too - the flesh and the Spirit, and that is why there is turmoil and
struggle within sometimes. The flesh and the Spirit are at war:
(Galatians 5:17 NKJV) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one
another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.
(Romans 8:5 NKJV) For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live
according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
(Romans 8:6 NKJV) For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
You Decide who is Stronger / Bellyache
What can you do about it, decide which one will be the stronger. Are you going to feed the flesh
or feed the Spirit? I'll tell ya, if you want a bellyache then feed them both. Go to church on
Sunday and do the things of the world the other days, go hang out with your old pals and have a
few and talk about the carnal things. You be miserable as both will grow, Jesus warns us of this:
(Revelation 3:16 NKJV) "So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
(Genesis 25:24 NKJV) So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there
were twins in her womb.
(Genesis 25:25 NKJV) And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so
they called his name Esau.
(Genesis 25:26 NKJV) Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's
heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
2 Kids / Flesh & Spirit
So Rebekah has these two kids, Jacob and Esau. Now Jacob his name is going to be changed
as God will eventually change his selfish nature, his new name will become Israel, which means
governed by God. Jacob represents the Spirit in our lives, and Esau represents the flesh. And
notice that Esau comes out first; that is the way it, we were all in the flesh first and then God
opened our eyes and we received Him and were born again.
(Genesis 25:27 NKJV) So the boys grew. And Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the
field; but Jacob was a mild man, dwelling in tents.
Esau Outdoorsy / Jacob - Starbucks
Esau, the outdoorsy type, Jacob is the city boy type; I'll stay in the tent. Esau liked hunting and
fishing, had the subscription to Outdoor Life and probably had the gun rack in the rear window of
the pickup, which had an 8inch lift kit. Jacob, he probably sipped lattes at Starbucks, had the tent
networked for wireless internet, and could actually tell you who the Pharaoh in Egypt was.
(Genesis 25:28 NKJV) And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah
loved Jacob.
Gos loves Period
Then we see, Isaac loved Esau (because he hunted), but Rebekah loved Jacob. Esau is a type
of the flesh, and the flesh always tries to give you reasons to like it, to love it. But Rebekah she
loves Jacob, period, no reasons, just I love you, period. Jacob represents the Spirit, and the love
was, period, I love you, period. That is how God loves you, it is unconditional. He doesn't love
you because of you, because of your prayer life, ministries, your knowledge of the Word, or even
how how much or how less of a sinner you are. God loves you, period. His love is unconditional.
He sees you perfect and blameless, a spotless bride before Him, washed white as snow through
the cleansing power of the Blood of the Lamb. No matter what you have done, or will do, His love
for you in unchanging, it is unconditional, it …………..I love you, period.
(Genesis 25:29 NKJV) Now Jacob cooked a stew; and Esau came in from the field, and he
was weary.
(Genesis 25:30 NKJV) And Esau said to Jacob, "Please feed me with that same red stew,
for I am weary." Therefore his name was called Edom.
Edomites
The Edomites are decedents of Esau, we will see them throughout the OT, and they will bring
much pain to the children of Israel.
(Malachi 1:2 NKJV) "I have loved you," says the LORD. "Yet you say, 'In what way have You loved us?' Was not Esau
Jacob's brother?" Says the LORD. "Yet Jacob I have loved;
(Malachi 1:3 NKJV) But Esau I have hated, And laid waste his mountains and his heritage For the jackals of the
wilderness."
(Romans 9:13 NKJV) As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."
(Genesis 25:31 NKJV) But Jacob said, "Sell me your birthright as of this day."
(Genesis 25:32 NKJV) And Esau said, "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to
me?"
(Genesis 25:33 NKJV) Then Jacob said, "Swear to me as of this day." So he swore to him,
and sold his birthright to Jacob.
(Genesis 25:34 NKJV) And Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils; then he ate and
drank, arose, and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.
Sell Birthright / Dbl Portion
Esau sells his birthright. In the OT the eldest gets a double portion of the Father's wealth:
(Deuteronomy 21:17 NKJV) "But he shall acknowledge the son of the unloved wife as the firstborn by giving him a double
portion of all that he has, for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.
To Become Spiritual Leader
But also, here is the important part to see here, the eldest will be in charge of the welfare and
spiritual leadership of the family once the father passes. He will be the priest of the house once
his father dies.
Despises Birthright / Cares Only about the Flesh / Profane
Esau despises his birthright; he doesn't care about his birthright, the spiritual leadership. All he
cares about is his stomach, the fleshly things. Hebrews says he was a profane person:
(Hebrews 12:14 NKJV) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord:
(Hebrews 12:15 NKJV) looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up
cause trouble, and by this many become defiled;
(Hebrews 12:16 NKJV) lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his
birthright.
(Hebrews 12:17 NKJV) For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he
found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.
Profane – Outside the Temple / Out Hunting – No Time for Things of God
Profane means outside the temple. He had no inclination for the spiritual things. He was out
there hunting away, going to the game, just feeding the flesh, he had no time for the things of
God.
Jacob – Problems / Hungered for the Eternal things
Jacob we will see had all kinds of problems, but we will also see that he hungered and thirsted for
the eternal things, and eventually he will be governed by God.
10 Seconds of Stupidity
I point out to all, but especially our youth see verse 33, in a ten second exchange, Esau's life was
changed forever, for the worse. One stupid 10-second act can change your life forever. Be
careful of going the way of Esau, satisfying the flesh, and it costing you for a lifetime.
